Cost of Living Comparison Between Gatineau and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Gatineau and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,073 per month in Gatineau vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,126 per month in Gatineau vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,179 per month in Gatineau vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Gatineau costs about 21% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Gatineau and Medellin sit above the global median – Gatineau by 51%, Medellin by 25%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.79 CA$16.38

$8.03 COP 25.3K

46.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$87.3 CA$121

$48.26 COP 152.3K

80.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 CA$15.21

$9.77 COP 30.8K

12.08%

Cappuccino

$3.21 CA$4.46

$2.91 COP 9,185

10.31%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 CA$1.95

$1.94 COP 6,134

-27.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 CA$2.21

$1.52 COP 4,801

4.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 CA$6.96

$3.09 COP 9,759

62.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.38 CA$8.86

$5.74 COP 18.1K

11.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 CA$2.72

$1.36 COP 4,304

44.12%

White Bread (500g)

$2.97 CA$4.12

$2.39 COP 7,534

24.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.39 CA$7.50

$1.70 COP 5,366

217.06%

Eggs

$3.36 CA$4.67

$2.87 COP 9,056

17.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.16 CA$16.90

$9.94 COP 31.4K

22.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 CA$13.97

$10.78 COP 34.0K

-6.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.96 CA$15.23

$14.73 COP 46.5K

-25.59%

Apples (1kg)

$4.17 CA$5.79

$4.09 COP 12.9K

1.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 CA$2.61

$1.57 COP 4,960

19.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.72 CA$6.56

$2.13 COP 6,708

121.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.78 CA$6.64

$2.21 COP 6,985

116.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 CA$2.93

$2.05 COP 6,460

2.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 CA$3.42

$1.50 COP 4,747

64.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 CA$2.95

$1.19 COP 3,755

78.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.67 CA$3.72

$1.16 COP 3,654

130.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.21 CA$16.96

$3.90 COP 12.3K

213.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.46 CA$17.32

$14.44 COP 45.6K

-13.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 CA$3.90

$1.58 COP 4,997

77.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 CA$4.68

$2.83 COP 8,923

19.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.33 CA$4.63

$1.17 COP 3,686

184.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.9 CA$114

$77.7 COP 245.3K

5.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.98 CA$6.92

$1.28 COP 4,054

289.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.40 CA$3.33

$2.09 COP 6,602

14.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.40 CA$46.41

$8.62 COP 27.2K

287.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 CA$1.63

$1.30 COP 4,096

-9.23%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.5K CA$39.7K

$27.7K COP 87.3M

3.22%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.4K CA$27.0K

$35.5K COP 112.0M

-45.36%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$116 CA$162

$176 COP 555.6K

-33.84%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$36.85 CA$51.2

$13.37 COP 42.2K

175.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.40 CA$68.6

$29.89 COP 94.3K

65.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.45 CA$67.3

$44.76 COP 141.2K

8.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.49 CA$40.98

$17.06 COP 53.8K

72.86%

Cinema Ticket

$10.76 CA$14.95

$6.20 COP 19.6K

73.55%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$569 CA$790

$793 COP 2.5M

-28.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.4 CA$101

$85.6 COP 270.1K

-15.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.13 CA$61.3

$58.5 COP 184.5K

-24.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 CA$124

$136 COP 430.1K

-34.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 CA$164

$103 COP 325.4K

14.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,107 CA$1,538

$1,060 COP 3.3M

4.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$979 CA$1,361

$680 COP 2.1M

44.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,850 CA$2,571

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-8.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,527 CA$2,122

$1,169 COP 3.7M

30.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,279 CA$7,336

$4,111 COP 13.0M

28.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,252 CA$8,688

$1,701 COP 5.4M

267.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,622 CA$3,644

$665 COP 2.1M

294.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.64

10.94

-57.59%

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

Last update for Gatineau: August 29, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,107 in Gatineau versus $1,060 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 294% higher in Gatineau, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Gatineau versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $376 vs $303 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Gatineau vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gatineau costs about 21% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,109 per month in Gatineau and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,073 in Gatineau and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 5% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Gatineau at $2,073. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gatineau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,716 versus $2,073 in Gatineau. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gatineau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.