Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge Bay and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge Bay and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,432 in Cambridge Bay versus $1,034 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,442 in Cambridge Bay versus $1,577 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,451 in Cambridge Bay versus $2,120 in Medellin.

Living in Cambridge Bay is roughly 135% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cambridge Bay is 82% above, Medellin is 23% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cambridge Bay
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.35 CA$31.99
$5.92 COP 21.5K
294.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.1 CA$97.4
$32.75 COP 119.1K
116.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.19 CA$15.33
$7.20 COP 26.2K
55.42%
Cappuccino
$3.70 CA$5.07
$1.70 COP 6,186
117.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 CA$2.78
$1.10 COP 3,996
84.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 CA$2.25
$0.72 COP 2,625
127.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.58 CA$7.65
$1.67 COP 6,067
234.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96 CA$8.17
$3.10 COP 11.3K
92.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cambridge Bay
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.21 CA$3.02
$1.06 COP 3,837
108.49%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 CA$3.73
$1.25 COP 4,531
117.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.61 CA$4.94
$1.39 COP 5,060
159.71%
Eggs
$3.49 CA$4.78
$2.26 COP 8,229
54.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.27 CA$15.44
$4.33 COP 15.8K
160.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.62 CA$15.91
$5.84 COP 21.2K
98.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.55 CA$19.93
$8.83 COP 32.1K
64.78%
Apples (1kg)
$3.93 CA$5.39
$2.24 COP 8,159
75.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 CA$1.87
$1.08 COP 3,911
25.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.62 CA$4.96
$1.53 COP 5,563
136.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.72 CA$5.10
$1.37 COP 4,987
171.53%
Potato (1kg)
$2.52 CA$3.45
$1.13 COP 4,109
123.01%
Onion (1kg)
$2.48 CA$3.40
$1.12 COP 4,067
121.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.50 CA$3.42
$0.85 COP 3,080
194.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 CA$2.36
$0.91 COP 3,305
89.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.71 CA$18.78
$2.33 COP 8,477
488.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.37 CA$15.58
$11.13 COP 40.5K
2.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 CA$3.85
$1.19 COP 4,342
136.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 CA$4.15
$2.37 COP 8,617
27.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Cambridge Bay
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.41 CA$3.30
$0.79 COP 2,859
205.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.7 CA$85.9
$41.13 COP 149.6K
52.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 CA$4.29
$1.44 COP 5,223
117.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 CA$1.97
$1.91 COP 6,952
-24.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.92 CA$35.50
$8.02 COP 29.2K
223.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 CA$1.52
$0.94 COP 3,410
18.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K CA$33.8K
$17.9K COP 65.2M
37.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K CA$28.6K
$26.8K COP 97.4M
-21.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cambridge Bay
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$141 CA$194
$84.0 COP 305.4K
68.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.08 CA$59.0
$9.60 COP 34.9K
348.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.5 CA$87.1
$24.16 COP 87.9K
163.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cambridge Bay
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.80 CA$57.3
$25.88 COP 94.1K
61.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04 COP 69.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.43 CA$15.65
$3.92 COP 14.2K
191.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cambridge Bay
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$742 CA$1,017
$306 COP 1.1M
142.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K CA$16.3K
$5,919 COP 21.5M
101.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cambridge Bay
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3 CA$75.8
$57.9 COP 210.6K
-4.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.00 CA$53.4
$31.82 COP 115.7K
22.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 CA$116
$99.9 COP 363.3K
-15.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 CA$144
$107 COP 389.7K
-1.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cambridge Bay
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,330 CA$1,822
$487 COP 1.8M
173.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,189 CA$1,629
$368 COP 1.3M
223.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,054 CA$2,814
$826 COP 3.0M
148.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,783 CA$2,443
$716 COP 2.6M
149.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,177 CA$7,093
$2,925 COP 10.6M
76.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,057 CA$5,558
$1,407 COP 5.1M
188.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cambridge Bay
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$546 COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.46
13.43
-51.90%

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

Last update for Cambridge Bay: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,330 in Cambridge Bay and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $71.0 in Cambridge Bay vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $360 vs $190 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
Cambridge Bay vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cambridge Bay and Medellin?
Cambridge Bay and Medellin differ by about 135% in total monthly costs ($2,432 vs $1,034 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Cambridge Bay compared to Medellin?
You'd need roughly $3,649 in Cambridge Bay and $1,550 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Cambridge Bay and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,330 in Cambridge Bay versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Cambridge Bay or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,432 per month in Cambridge Bay versus $1,034 in Medellin – a 135% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Cambridge Bay and Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 52% less than in Cambridge Bay. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $2,432 in Cambridge Bay, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Cambridge Bay. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cambridge Bay and Medellin?
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.
Where should expats move: Cambridge Bay or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 135% less than in Cambridge Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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