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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,075 per month in Gatineau vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,120 per month in Gatineau vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,166 per month in Gatineau vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Gatineau costs about 101% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Gatineau sits 55% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.20 CA$18.50

$6.16 COP 20.0K

114.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.3 CA$124

$32.60 COP 106.0K

170.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 CA$15.31

$7.34 COP 23.9K

48.77%

Cappuccino

$3.25 CA$4.56

$1.72 COP 5,592

88.95%

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

$1.49 CA$2.09

$1.05 COP 3,416

41.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 CA$2.04

$0.77 COP 2,511

88.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.48 CA$6.28

$1.69 COP 5,480

165.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.42 CA$9.01

$3.17 COP 10.3K

102.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 CA$2.78

$1.05 COP 3,418

88.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.05 CA$4.27

$1.30 COP 4,230

134.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.98 CA$6.98

$1.40 COP 4,538

255.71%

Eggs

$3.52 CA$4.94

$2.16 COP 7,037

62.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.80 CA$16.55

$4.39 COP 14.3K

168.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.49 CA$14.71

$5.88 COP 19.1K

78.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.44 CA$16.04

$8.64 COP 28.1K

32.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.63 CA$6.49

$2.28 COP 7,415

103.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 CA$1.93

$1.11 COP 3,599

24.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.84 CA$6.78

$1.53 COP 4,976

216.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.73 CA$5.23

$1.35 COP 4,405

176.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 CA$2.77

$1.13 COP 3,669

75.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 CA$3.13

$1.13 COP 3,687

97.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 CA$3.05

$0.85 COP 2,749

156.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 CA$3.89

$0.91 COP 2,971

205.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.11 CA$16.98

$2.34 COP 7,619

417.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.13 CA$17.01

$12.37 COP 40.2K

-1.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 CA$3.37

$1.20 COP 3,904

100.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 CA$4.06

$2.49 COP 8,094

16.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.39 CA$4.75

$0.84 COP 2,724

303.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.6 CA$114

$40.57 COP 131.9K

101.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.86 CA$5.41

$1.42 COP 4,617

171.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 CA$2.08

$1.92 COP 6,227

-22.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$33.60 CA$47.10

$7.66 COP 24.9K

338.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 CA$1.65

$0.99 COP 3,219

19.19%

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

$24.9K CA$34.9K

$18.0K COP 58.6M

38.18%

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

$20.5K CA$28.7K

$26.6K COP 86.6M

-23.08%

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

$112 CA$157

$80.8 COP 262.7K

38.92%

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

$39.33 CA$55.1

$9.95 COP 32.3K

295.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.3 CA$70.5

$24.18 COP 78.6K

108.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.93 CA$61.6

$25.08 COP 81.5K

75.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.26 CA$42.42

$19.15 COP 62.3K

58.02%

Cinema Ticket

$11.08 CA$15.54

$3.98 COP 13.0K

178.39%

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

$581 CA$814

$305 COP 992.2K

90.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K CA$16.2K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

90.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 CA$88.6

$58.1 COP 189.0K

8.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.67 CA$61.2

$32.20 COP 104.7K

35.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.4 CA$110

$101 COP 327.5K

-22.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 CA$170

$108 COP 350.3K

12.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,098 CA$1,539

$477 COP 1.5M

130.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,004 CA$1,408

$376 COP 1.2M

167.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,674 CA$2,346

$845 COP 2.7M

98.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,606 CA$2,251

$730 COP 2.4M

119.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,298 CA$7,428

$3,215 COP 10.5M

64.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,114 CA$8,572

$1,372 COP 4.5M

345.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,624 CA$3,679

$617 COP 2.0M

325.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

13.43

-51.60%

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

Last update for Gatineau: July 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,098 in Gatineau versus $477 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 325% 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 $88.0 in Gatineau versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $193 – 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 101% 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 $3,113 per month in Gatineau and $1,546 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 $2,075 in Gatineau and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 101% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Gatineau at $2,075. 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 $1,031 versus $2,075 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.