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: $2,848 in Astoria, NY versus $1,031 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,928 in Astoria, NY versus $1,599 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,008 in Astoria, NY versus $2,167 in Medellin.

Living in Astoria, NY is roughly 176% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Astoria, NY is 113% above, Medellin is 23% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.37 $16.37

$6.16 COP 20.1K

165.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.9 $60.9

$32.60 COP 106.1K

86.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.97 $6.97

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-5.04%

Cappuccino

$3.42 $3.42

$1.72 COP 5,600

98.84%

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

$1.70 $1.70

$1.05 COP 3,420

61.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$0.77 COP 2,515

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 $4.92

$1.69 COP 5,488

191.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.72 $7.72

$3.17 COP 10.3K

143.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.05 COP 3,423

4.76%

White Bread (500g)

$3.53 $3.53

$1.30 COP 4,236

171.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.40 COP 4,544

63.57%

Eggs

$2.97 $2.97

$2.16 COP 7,047

37.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.13 $11.13

$4.39 COP 14.3K

153.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.75 $7.75

$5.88 COP 19.1K

31.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.75 $9.75

$8.64 COP 28.1K

12.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.28 COP 7,426

18.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.11 COP 3,604

71.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.53 COP 4,983

95.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.35 COP 4,410

125.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 $1.64

$1.13 COP 3,674

45.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.13 COP 3,692

72.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 $1.48

$0.85 COP 2,753

74.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 $1.48

$0.91 COP 2,975

62.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.82 $14.82

$2.34 COP 7,630

533.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.77 $19.77

$12.37 COP 40.3K

59.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.20 COP 3,909

45.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 $3.53

$2.49 COP 8,104

41.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.88 $2.88

$0.84 COP 2,728

242.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$133 $133

$40.57 COP 132.1K

227.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 $2.94

$1.42 COP 4,623

107.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 $2.13

$1.92 COP 6,235

10.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.33 $41.33

$7.66 COP 24.9K

439.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$0.99 COP 3,223

-9.09%

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

$25.6K $25.6K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

41.87%

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

$24.6K $24.6K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-7.50%

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

$102 $102

$80.8 COP 263.1K

25.69%

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

$37.26 $37.26

$9.95 COP 32.4K

274.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.43 $30.43

$24.18 COP 78.7K

25.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.3 $70.3

$25.08 COP 81.7K

180.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$17.79 $17.79

$3.98 COP 13.0K

346.98%

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

$1,875 $1,875

$305 COP 993.5K

514.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K $14.1K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

133.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.71 $24.71

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-57.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.79 $19.79

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-38.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.97 $29.97

$101 COP 327.9K

-70.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.0 $51.0

$108 COP 350.8K

-52.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,234 $2,234

$477 COP 1.6M

368.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,818 $1,818

$376 COP 1.2M

383.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,748 $3,748

$845 COP 2.7M

343.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,555 $2,555

$730 COP 2.4M

249.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,234 in Astoria, NY and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $61.0 in Astoria, NY vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $193 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 176% in total monthly costs ($2,848 vs $1,031 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,272 in Astoria, NY and $1,546 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: $2,234 in Astoria, NY versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,848 per month in Astoria, NY versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 176% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 227% less than in Astoria, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,031 in Medellin versus $2,848 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 176% less than in Astoria, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.