Cost of Living Comparison Between Astoria, NY and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Astoria, NY and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,895 in Astoria, NY versus $1,013 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,904 in Astoria, NY versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,912 in Astoria, NY versus $2,192 in Medellin.

Living in Astoria, NY is roughly 186% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Astoria, NY is 116% above, Medellin is 24% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.75 $16.75

$5.99 COP 21.4K

179.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.2 $59.2

$32.86 COP 117.4K

80.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.06 $7.06

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-0.42%

Cappuccino

$3.36 $3.36

$1.71 COP 6,115

96.49%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.10 COP 3,924

62.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.78 COP 2,781

97.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 $4.93

$1.68 COP 5,997

193.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.71 $7.71

$3.07 COP 11.0K

151.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.09 COP 3,906

1.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.60 $3.60

$1.26 COP 4,508

185.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 $2.33

$1.38 COP 4,922

68.84%

Eggs

$2.95 $2.95

$2.19 COP 7,827

34.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.91 $10.91

$4.40 COP 15.7K

147.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.89 $7.89

$5.63 COP 20.1K

40.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.01 $10.01

$8.89 COP 31.8K

12.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.34 COP 8,349

16.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.06 COP 3,777

70.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.50 COP 5,374

99.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.38 COP 4,924

121.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.15 COP 4,111

46.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.16 COP 4,155

68.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.89 COP 3,182

73.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.84 COP 2,997

73.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.72 $14.72

$2.28 COP 8,145

545.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.71 $19.71

$10.64 COP 38.0K

85.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.20 COP 4,284

40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 $3.52

$2.47 COP 8,824

42.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.92 $2.92

$0.86 COP 3,056

239.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$132 $132

$41.40 COP 147.9K

219.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.47 COP 5,264

99.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.96 COP 7,009

13.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.29 $42.29

$7.74 COP 27.6K

446.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 $0.91

$0.95 COP 3,409

-4.21%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.1K $25.1K

$18.1K COP 64.7M

38.38%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.0K $24.0K

$26.5K COP 94.6M

-9.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$101 $101

$82.3 COP 293.7K

22.20%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$36.32 $36.32

$9.50 COP 33.9K

282.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.88 $29.88

$24.23 COP 86.5K

23.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.3 $70.3

$25.89 COP 92.4K

171.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$17.45 $17.45

$3.93 COP 14.0K

344.02%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,907 $1,907

$309 COP 1.1M

516.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K $14.3K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

140.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.19 $25.19

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-57.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.36 $20.36

$32.35 COP 115.5K

-37.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.54 $29.54

$103 COP 366.4K

-71.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.3 $50.3

$108 COP 387.2K

-53.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,240 $2,240

$476 COP 1.7M

370.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,830 $1,830

$379 COP 1.4M

383.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,741 $3,741

$838 COP 3.0M

346.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,549 $2,549

$724 COP 2.6M

252.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

13.43

-51.53%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Astoria, NY: May 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,240 in Astoria, NY and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $59.0 in Astoria, NY vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $310 vs $188 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Astoria, NY vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Astoria, NY and Medellin differ by about 186% in total monthly costs ($2,895 vs $1,013 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,343 in Astoria, NY and $1,519 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,240 in Astoria, NY versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,895 per month in Astoria, NY versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 186% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 220% less than in Astoria, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,013 in Medellin versus $2,895 in Astoria, NY, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Astoria, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Astoria, NY and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 186% less than in Astoria, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.