😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Geelong versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,084 in Geelong versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,800 in Geelong versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Geelong is roughly 134% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Geelong is 77% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Geelong
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.43A$23.03
$5.99COP 21.4K
174.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.6A$109
$32.86COP 117.2K
136.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.51A$13.33
$7.09COP 25.3K
34.13%
Cappuccino
$3.26A$4.57
$1.71COP 6,105
90.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60A$3.64
$1.10COP 3,918
136.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17A$3.04
$0.78COP 2,776
178.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.12A$8.57
$1.68COP 5,987
264.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90A$6.86
$3.07COP 10.9K
59.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Geelong
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46A$2.04
$1.09COP 3,899
33.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.19A$3.07
$1.26COP 4,500
73.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.88A$1.24
$1.38COP 4,914
-36.23%
Eggs
$2.77A$3.88
$2.19COP 7,813
26.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.58A$10.63
$4.40COP 15.7K
72.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49A$13.30
$5.63COP 20.1K
68.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.77A$20.70
$8.89COP 31.7K
66.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87A$4.02
$2.34COP 8,334
22.65%
Banana(1kg)
$2.78A$3.90
$1.06COP 3,771
162.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.90A$4.07
$1.50COP 5,365
93.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.28A$3.20
$1.38COP 4,915
65.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.45A$3.43
$1.15COP 4,104
113.04%
Onion(1kg)
$2.05A$2.87
$1.16COP 4,148
76.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55A$2.17
$0.89COP 3,176
74.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.65A$2.32
$0.84COP 2,992
96.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$31.34A$43.92
$2.28COP 8,131
1274.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.79A$19.32
$10.64COP 37.9K
29.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.57A$5.00
$1.20COP 4,276
197.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01A$4.22
$2.47COP 8,809
21.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Geelong
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$6.82A$9.56
$0.86COP 3,051
693.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$117A$164
$41.40COP 147.6K
183.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.55A$4.97
$1.47COP 5,255
141.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40A$1.97
$1.96COP 6,997
-28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.60A$38.68
$7.74COP 27.6K
256.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19A$1.66
$0.95COP 3,403
25.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6KA$40.1K
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
57.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KA$32.3K
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
-12.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Geelong
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$140A$196
$82.3COP 293.2K
69.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.80A$29.14
$9.50COP 33.9K
118.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6A$70.9
$24.23COP 86.4K
108.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Geelong
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.7A$73.8
$25.89COP 92.3K
103.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.36A$20.13
$19.00COP 67.7K
-24.42%
Cinema Ticket
$11.75A$16.46
$3.93COP 14.0K
198.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Geelong
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,748A$2,449
$309COP 1.1M
464.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.4KA$27.2K
$5,965COP 21.3M
225.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Geelong
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.3A$94.3
$58.7COP 209.1K
14.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.01A$61.7
$32.35COP 115.3K
36.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101A$142
$103COP 365.7K
-1.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.4A$125
$108COP 386.5K
-17.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Geelong
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,489A$2,087
$476COP 1.7M
212.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,236A$1,731
$379COP 1.4M
226.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,209A$1,694
$838COP 3.0M
44.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225A$1,717
$724COP 2.6M
69.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,740A$9,444
$2,791COP 9.9M
141.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,423A$7,598
$1,211COP 4.3M
347.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Geelong
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,163A$4,432
$512COP 1.8M
517.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.19
13.43
-53.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Geelong: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,489 in Geelong and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Geelong pays 518% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $78.0 in Geelong vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $188 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Geelong vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Geelong and Medellin?
Geelong and Medellin differ by about 134% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $1,013 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Geelong or Medellin?
Geelong pays 518% 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 Geelong and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,489 in Geelong versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Geelong or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,367 per month in Geelong versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 134% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Geelong and Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 183% less than in Geelong. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $2,367 in Geelong, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Geelong. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Geelong 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 Geelong or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Geelong 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: Geelong or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 134% less than in Geelong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.