😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,264 in Cranbrook versus $1,641 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,046 in Cranbrook versus $2,447 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,828 in Cranbrook versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Cranbrook is roughly 38% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cranbrook64% above, Medellin19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cranbrook
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.54CA$20.16
$8.04COP 24.8K
80.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1CA$95.8
$48.29COP 148.6K
43.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.24CA$14.20
$9.42COP 29.0K
8.70%
Cappuccino
$3.87CA$5.37
$2.94COP 9,040
31.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79CA$2.49
$1.86COP 5,735
-3.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78CA$2.47
$1.46COP 4,479
21.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.03CA$6.97
$3.21COP 9,882
56.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72CA$7.93
$5.71COP 17.6K
0.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cranbrook
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.86CA$2.58
$1.44COP 4,428
29.17%
White Bread(500g)
$2.47CA$3.43
$2.40COP 7,389
2.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.51CA$6.26
$1.70COP 5,228
165.29%
Eggs
$3.58CA$4.97
$2.89COP 8,896
23.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.49CA$14.55
$10.06COP 30.9K
4.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.87CA$17.84
$9.97COP 30.7K
29.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.35CA$18.52
$14.20COP 43.7K
-5.99%
Apples(1kg)
$3.49CA$4.84
$3.98COP 12.3K
-12.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31CA$1.82
$1.58COP 4,878
-17.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.81CA$3.90
$2.15COP 6,624
30.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.60CA$6.38
$2.30COP 7,078
100.00%
Potato(1kg)
$3.72CA$5.16
$2.00COP 6,169
86.00%
Onion(1kg)
$3.21CA$4.46
$1.51COP 4,646
112.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.35CA$4.65
$1.20COP 3,701
179.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85CA$2.57
$1.28COP 3,946
44.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.25CA$16.98
$3.84COP 11.8K
219.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.73CA$20.43
$14.01COP 43.1K
5.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.26CA$4.51
$1.71COP 5,256
90.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78CA$5.24
$2.74COP 8,440
37.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Cranbrook
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42CA$1.97
$1.25COP 3,834
13.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.52CA$4.88
$1.31COP 4,016
168.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.94CA$4.08
$2.17COP 6,680
35.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$44.06CA$61.1
$8.29COP 25.5K
431.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08CA$1.50
$1.36COP 4,172
-20.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7KCA$39.9K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
4.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KCA$32.1K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-36.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cranbrook
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$182CA$252
$169COP 519.2K
7.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.96CA$24.91
$13.57COP 41.8K
32.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.3CA$85.0
$28.32COP 87.2K
116.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cranbrook
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.69CA$39.79
$45.71COP 140.7K
-37.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.76CA$20.47
$6.65COP 20.5K
121.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cranbrook
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$911CA$1,263
$803COP 2.5M
13.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,673CA$5,093
$9,190COP 28.3M
-60.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cranbrook
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.92CA$60.9
$87.4COP 268.8K
-49.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.5CA$74.2
$59.4COP 182.7K
-9.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.5CA$108
$139COP 427.5K
-44.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118CA$164
$102COP 314.0K
16.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cranbrook
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,075CA$1,491
$1,071COP 3.3M
0.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,139CA$1,579
$653COP 2.0M
74.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,661CA$2,304
$1,925COP 5.9M
-13.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,474CA$2,044
$1,048COP 3.2M
40.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,123COP 12.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cranbrook
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,996CA$4,155
$655COP 2.0M
357.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.85
10.94
-55.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cranbrook: September 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,075 in Cranbrook and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cranbrook pays 357% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Cranbrook vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $378 vs $300 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
Cranbrook vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cranbrook or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Cranbrook. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cranbrook or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 357% higher in Cranbrook, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cranbrook compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,075 in Cranbrook versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Cranbrook and in Medellin?
Childcare runs $911 in Cranbrook versus $803 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Cranbrook and in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $69.0 in Cranbrook. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Cranbrook or in Medellin?
At $1,641 in Medellin versus $2,264 in Cranbrook, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Cranbrook. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cranbrook or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,641 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Cranbrook. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.