😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,198 in Crooked Island versus $1,034 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,506 in Crooked Island versus $1,577 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,814 in Crooked Island versus $2,120 in Medellin.
😐Living in Crooked Island is roughly 113% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Crooked Island is 64% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$50.2BSD 50.2
$5.92COP 21.5K
748.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$32.75COP 119.1K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.85BSD 12.85
$7.20COP 26.2K
78.47%
Cappuccino
$3.97BSD 3.97
$1.70COP 6,186
133.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98BSD 3.98
$1.10COP 3,996
261.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05BSD 2.05
$0.72COP 2,625
184.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.05BSD 5.05
$1.67COP 6,067
202.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.11BSD 5.11
$3.10COP 11.3K
64.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$7.84BSD 7.84
$1.06COP 3,837
639.62%
White Bread(500g)
$5.83BSD 5.83
$1.25COP 4,531
366.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.59BSD 3.59
$1.39COP 5,060
158.27%
Eggs
$11.55BSD 11.55
$2.26COP 8,229
411.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.04BSD 13.04
$4.33COP 15.8K
201.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$5.84COP 21.2K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.92BSD 7.92
$8.83COP 32.1K
-10.31%
Apples(1kg)
$6.41BSD 6.41
$2.24COP 8,159
186.16%
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.08COP 3,911
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27BSD 1.27
$1.53COP 5,563
-16.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$11.91BSD 11.91
$1.37COP 4,987
769.34%
Potato(1kg)
$2.14BSD 2.14
$1.13COP 4,109
89.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.89BSD 2.89
$1.12COP 4,067
158.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02BSD 1.02
$0.85COP 3,080
20.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.96BSD 1.96
$0.91COP 3,305
115.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.33COP 8,477
-
Wine(Bottle)
$30.30BSD 30.30
$11.13COP 40.5K
172.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.86BSD 4.86
$1.19COP 4,342
308.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.89BSD 4.89
$2.37COP 8,617
106.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.79COP 2,859
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.13COP 149.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.44COP 5,223
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.02BSD 2.02
$1.91COP 6,952
5.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.02COP 29.2K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$0.94COP 3,410
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217BSD 217
$84.0COP 305.4K
158.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.3BSD 60.3
$9.60COP 34.9K
527.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2BSD 71.2
$24.16COP 87.9K
194.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.88COP 94.1K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04COP 69.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$3.92COP 14.2K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$306COP 1.1M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,919COP 21.5M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.7BSD 78.7
$57.9COP 210.6K
35.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.53BSD 49.53
$31.82COP 115.7K
55.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$249BSD 249
$99.9COP 363.3K
149.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101BSD 101
$107COP 389.7K
-5.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$542BSD 542
$487COP 1.8M
11.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$549BSD 549
$368COP 1.3M
49.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,571BSD 1,571
$826COP 3.0M
90.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,583BSD 1,583
$716COP 2.6M
121.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Crooked Island
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,091BSD 1,091
$546COP 2.0M
100.04%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $542 in Crooked Island and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Crooked Island pays 100% 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 113% in total monthly costs ($2,198 vs $1,034 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 100% 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: $542 in Crooked Island versus $487 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 159% 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 $2,198 per month in Crooked Island versus $1,034 in Medellin – a 113% 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 $1,034 in Medellin versus $2,198 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 113% 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