😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,138 in Crooked Island versus $1,017 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,461 in Crooked Island versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,784 in Crooked Island versus $2,188 in Medellin.
😐Living in Crooked Island is roughly 110% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Crooked Island is 59% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$50.6BSD 50.6
$5.95COP 20.8K
749.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$33.33COP 116.3K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.10BSD 13.10
$7.23COP 25.2K
81.19%
Cappuccino
$4.09BSD 4.09
$1.63COP 5,687
150.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96BSD 3.96
$1.09COP 3,821
263.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04BSD 2.04
$0.73COP 2,548
179.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.05BSD 5.05
$1.74COP 6,065
190.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.13BSD 5.13
$3.23COP 11.3K
58.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$8.11BSD 8.11
$1.05COP 3,662
672.38%
White Bread(500g)
$6.02BSD 6.02
$1.29COP 4,515
366.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.53BSD 3.53
$1.32COP 4,617
167.42%
Eggs
$11.62BSD 11.62
$2.27COP 7,927
411.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.21BSD 13.21
$4.35COP 15.2K
203.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$5.88COP 20.5K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.94BSD 7.94
$8.61COP 30.0K
-7.78%
Apples(1kg)
$6.37BSD 6.37
$2.25COP 7,844
183.11%
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.07COP 3,733
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28BSD 1.28
$1.52COP 5,322
-15.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$11.87BSD 11.87
$1.42COP 4,964
735.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21BSD 2.21
$1.17COP 4,084
88.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.92BSD 2.92
$1.17COP 4,077
149.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98BSD 0.98
$0.89COP 3,096
10.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.01BSD 2.01
$0.90COP 3,146
123.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.25COP 7,837
-
Wine(Bottle)
$29.91BSD 29.91
$11.04COP 38.5K
170.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.03BSD 5.03
$1.14COP 3,977
341.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.97BSD 4.97
$2.38COP 8,301
108.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.84COP 2,916
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.41COP 4,912
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.03BSD 2.03
$1.90COP 6,634
6.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.75COP 27.0K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.01COP 3,509
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$216BSD 216
$83.7COP 292.1K
158.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.1BSD 60.1
$9.45COP 33.0K
536.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.1BSD 69.1
$24.11COP 84.1K
186.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.31COP 88.3K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.10COP 14.3K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$312COP 1.1M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,993COP 20.9M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.5BSD 79.5
$58.0COP 202.6K
36.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.7BSD 50.7
$32.56COP 113.6K
55.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$247BSD 247
$99.6COP 347.7K
148.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102BSD 102
$109COP 378.8K
-6.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$547BSD 547
$482COP 1.7M
13.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$541BSD 541
$379COP 1.3M
42.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,594BSD 1,594
$837COP 2.9M
90.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,626BSD 1,626
$723COP 2.5M
124.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,095BSD 1,095
$541COP 1.9M
102.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
13.43
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Crooked Island: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $547 in Crooked Island and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Crooked Island pays 102% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
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
Crooked Island vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Crooked Island and Medellin?
Crooked Island and Medellin differ by about 110% in total monthly costs ($2,138 vs $1,017 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Crooked Island or Medellin?
Crooked Island pays 102% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Crooked Island and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $547 in Crooked Island versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 162% higher in Crooked Island. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Crooked Island or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,138 per month in Crooked Island versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 110% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $2,138 in Crooked Island, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Crooked Island. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Crooked Island 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.
Is Crooked Island or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Crooked Island 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.
Where should expats move: Crooked Island or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 110% less than in Crooked Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Crooked Island vs other spots: cost of living compared