😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,171 in Crooked Island versus $1,681 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,571 in Crooked Island versus $2,445 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,971 in Crooked Island versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Crooked Island is roughly 29% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Crooked Island59% above, Medellin23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$49.01BSD 49.01
$8.02COP 25.0K
511.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$47.87COP 149.4K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.01BSD 13.01
$9.89COP 30.8K
31.55%
Cappuccino
$3.90BSD 3.90
$3.13COP 9,767
24.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91BSD 3.91
$1.91COP 5,954
104.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95BSD 1.95
$1.51COP 4,712
29.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.09BSD 5.09
$3.12COP 9,747
63.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06BSD 5.06
$5.75COP 17.9K
-12.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$7.86BSD 7.86
$1.44COP 4,509
445.83%
White Bread(500g)
$6.10BSD 6.10
$2.49COP 7,759
144.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.45BSD 3.45
$1.77COP 5,535
94.92%
Eggs
$11.43BSD 11.43
$2.96COP 9,235
286.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.13BSD 13.13
$10.07COP 31.4K
30.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$10.12COP 31.6K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.07BSD 8.07
$14.30COP 44.6K
-43.57%
Apples(1kg)
$14.08BSD 14.08
$4.14COP 12.9K
240.10%
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.61COP 5,019
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28BSD 1.28
$2.25COP 7,007
-43.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$12.17BSD 12.17
$2.25COP 7,028
440.89%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21BSD 2.21
$2.04COP 6,375
8.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.81BSD 2.81
$1.54COP 4,790
82.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99BSD 0.99
$1.17COP 3,651
-15.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94BSD 1.94
$1.31COP 4,077
48.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.90COP 12.2K
-
Wine(Bottle)
$30.14BSD 30.14
$14.01COP 43.7K
115.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.93BSD 4.93
$1.74COP 5,439
183.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.91BSD 4.91
$2.87COP 8,956
71.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.22COP 3,792
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.31COP 4,084
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07BSD 2.07
$2.19COP 6,825
-5.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.71COP 27.2K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.37COP 4,260
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$221BSD 221
$177COP 553.2K
24.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.2BSD 60.2
$13.88COP 43.3K
333.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.9BSD 68.9
$29.72COP 92.8K
131.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$44.88COP 140.1K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.65COP 20.7K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$813COP 2.5M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$9,187COP 28.7M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.4BSD 81.4
$89.5COP 279.3K
-9.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.63BSD 49.63
$59.0COP 184.0K
-15.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$249BSD 249
$138COP 431.2K
80.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.7BSD 99.7
$102COP 318.7K
-2.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$560BSD 560
$1,062COP 3.3M
-47.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$540BSD 540
$663COP 2.1M
-18.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,611BSD 1,611
$1,888COP 5.9M
-14.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,601BSD 1,601
$1,027COP 3.2M
55.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,183COP 13.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,675COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,077BSD 1,077
$678COP 2.1M
58.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
10.94
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Crooked Island: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $560 in Crooked Island and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Crooked Island pays 59% 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 in Medellin?
Crooked Island and Medellin differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($2,171 vs $1,681 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?
Average pay runs 59% higher in Crooked Island, 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 in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $560 in Crooked Island versus $1,062 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 75% 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 $2,171 per month in Crooked Island versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,171 in Crooked Island, a $2,500 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 29% 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