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: $3,316 in Astoria, NY versus $1,716 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,664 in Astoria, NY versus $2,527 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,012 in Astoria, NY versus $3,338 in Medellin.

Living in Astoria, NY is roughly 93% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Astoria, NY 141% above, Medellin 25% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.79 $18.79

$8.03 COP 25.3K

134.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.5 $79.5

$48.26 COP 152.0K

64.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 $9.82

$9.77 COP 30.8K

0.51%

Cappuccino

$4.48 $4.48

$2.91 COP 9,167

53.95%

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

$1.72 $1.72

$1.94 COP 6,122

-11.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.52 COP 4,792

18.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.09 COP 9,740

57.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.91 $7.91

$5.74 COP 18.1K

37.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.36 COP 4,296

-12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.88 $3.88

$2.39 COP 7,519

62.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$1.70 COP 5,356

116.47%

Eggs

$3.48 $3.48

$2.87 COP 9,038

21.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.73 $16.73

$9.94 COP 31.3K

68.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.91 $8.91

$10.78 COP 34.0K

-17.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.49 $13.49

$14.73 COP 46.4K

-8.42%

Apples (1kg)

$4.07 $4.07

$4.09 COP 12.9K

-0.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.57 COP 4,950

17.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.13 COP 6,695

17.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.98 $3.98

$2.21 COP 6,972

80.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 $2.37

$2.05 COP 6,447

15.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.42 $2.42

$1.50 COP 4,737

61.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$1.19 COP 3,747

71.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.16 COP 3,647

110.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$14.93 $14.93

$3.90 COP 12.3K

282.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.08 $20.08

$14.44 COP 45.5K

39.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.58 COP 4,987

10.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 $3.40

$2.83 COP 8,905

20.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.17 COP 3,679

158.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$141 $141

$77.7 COP 244.8K

81.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 $3.02

$1.28 COP 4,045

135.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$2.09 COP 6,589

2.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.15 $42.15

$8.62 COP 27.1K

388.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.30 COP 4,088

-33.85%

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

$34.9K $34.9K

$27.7K COP 87.1M

26.17%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$35.5K COP 111.8M

-28.96%

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

$114 $114

$176 COP 554.5K

-35.12%

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

$55.9 $55.9

$13.37 COP 42.1K

318.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.79 $49.79

$29.89 COP 94.1K

66.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.83 $45.83

$44.76 COP 141.0K

2.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.7K

Cinema Ticket

$20.08 $20.08

$6.20 COP 19.5K

223.87%

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

$2,505 $2,505

$793 COP 2.5M

215.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$34.9K $34.9K

$9,019 COP 28.4M

287.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.67 $24.67

$85.6 COP 269.6K

-71.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.30 $20.30

$58.5 COP 184.1K

-65.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$30.28 $30.28

$136 COP 429.3K

-77.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.99 $49.99

$103 COP 324.7K

-51.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 $2,377

$1,060 COP 3.3M

124.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,173 $2,173

$680 COP 2.1M

219.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,695 $3,695

$2,012 COP 6.3M

83.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,219 $3,219

$1,169 COP 3.7M

175.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.32

10.94

-42.23%

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

Last update for Astoria, NY: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,377 in Astoria, NY and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $79.0 in Astoria, NY vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $381 vs $303 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 93% in total monthly costs ($3,316 vs $1,716 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $4,974 in Astoria, NY and $2,574 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: $2,377 in Astoria, NY versus $1,060 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $3,316 per month in Astoria, NY versus $1,716 in Medellin – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 81% less than in Astoria, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,716 in Medellin versus $3,316 in Astoria, NY, a $2,500 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 93% less than in Astoria, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.