Cost of Living Comparison Between Cairns and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Cairns and Medellin

😐 Solo nomad: Cairns is 87.2% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 129.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Cairns is 112.7% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 114.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cairns
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.67 A$17.88
$6.23 COP 26K
87.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9 A$125
$32.34 COP 134.8K
153.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 A$16.33
$7.39 COP 30.8K
44.25%
Cappuccino
$3.92 A$6.01
$1.72 COP 7,155
127.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 A$4.19
$1.1 COP 4,575
148.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 A$3.46
$0.73 COP 3,060
209.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.58 A$10.09
$1.66 COP 6,916
296.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07 A$10.83
$3.2 COP 13.3K
120.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cairns
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.7 A$2.61
$1.09 COP 4,552
55.96%
White Bread (500g)
$2.51 A$3.85
$1.24 COP 5,188
102.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 A$4.15
$1.33 COP 5,544
103.76%
Eggs
$3.93 A$6.02
$2.22 COP 9,252
77.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.87 A$12.06
$4.55 COP 19K
72.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.19 A$14.08
$5.71 COP 23.8K
60.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.84 A$19.67
$8.59 COP 35.8K
49.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 A$4.58
$2.26 COP 9,410
32.30%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 A$3.53
$1.07 COP 4,461
115.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.66 A$4.07
$1.51 COP 6,293
76.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.39 A$11.32
$1.42 COP 5,911
420.42%
Potato (1kg)
$2.28 A$3.5
$1.11 COP 4,619
105.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 A$3.42
$1.18 COP 4,932
88.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 A$3.47
$0.89 COP 3,718
155.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.88 A$4.42
$0.84 COP 3,507
242.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$29.83 A$45.69
$2.35 COP 9,809
1169.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.03 A$16.89
$9.34 COP 38.9K
18.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.39 A$5.2
$1.18 COP 4,927
187.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 A$5.39
$2.49 COP 10.4K
41.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Cairns
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.22 A$4.94
$0.83 COP 3,464
287.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.4 A$100
$41.9 COP 174.7K
56.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.44 A$9.86
$1.41 COP 5,899
356.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.13 A$4.8
$1.96 COP 8,164
59.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.86 A$51.9
$7.85 COP 32.7K
331.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 A$1.77
$1.02 COP 4,265
12.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K A$34.8K
$17.6K COP 73.4M
29.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.2K A$29.4K
$26.2K COP 109.2M
-26.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cairns
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$153 A$234
$82.5 COP 344.1K
85.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.09 A$56.8
$9.44 COP 39.4K
292.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59 A$90.3
$23.51 COP 98K
150.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cairns
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.89 A$59.6
$25.68 COP 107.1K
51.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.92 A$24.39
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-16.82%
Cinema Ticket
$12.98 A$19.88
$3.96 COP 16.5K
227.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cairns
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,628 A$2,494
$305 COP 1.3M
434.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K A$18.5K
$5,925 COP 24.7M
104.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cairns
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83 A$127
$57.9 COP 241.4K
43.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.2 A$101
$31.59 COP 131.7K
109.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.2 A$150
$103 COP 430.1K
-4.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 A$206
$106 COP 440.5K
27.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cairns
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,193 A$1,828
$489 COP 2M
143.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,110 A$1,701
$379 COP 1.6M
192.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,042 A$3,128
$827 COP 3.4M
146.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,858 A$2,847
$729 COP 3M
154.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,035 A$9,246
$2,190 COP 9.1M
175.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,795 A$7,346
$1,532 COP 6.4M
212.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cairns
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,813 A$4,310
$550 COP 2.3M
411.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.96
13.43
-48.18%

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

Last update for Cairns: October 27, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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