😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,653 in Gladstone versus $1,641 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,588 in Gladstone versus $2,447 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,524 in Gladstone versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Gladstone is roughly 62% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Gladstone92% above, Medellin19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58A$24.51
$8.04COP 24.8K
118.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.9A$117
$48.29COP 148.6K
73.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.43A$17.32
$9.42COP 29.0K
31.95%
Cappuccino
$4.37A$6.09
$2.94COP 9,040
48.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26A$4.54
$1.86COP 5,735
75.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90A$4.04
$1.46COP 4,479
98.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.74A$10.80
$3.21COP 9,882
141.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.58A$13.35
$5.71COP 17.6K
67.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65A$2.31
$1.44COP 4,428
14.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.68A$3.74
$2.40COP 7,389
11.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.35A$3.28
$1.70COP 5,228
38.24%
Eggs
$5.12A$7.14
$2.89COP 8,896
77.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.63A$13.43
$10.06COP 30.9K
-4.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.60A$13.39
$9.97COP 30.7K
-3.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.38A$21.45
$14.20COP 43.7K
8.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.61A$5.03
$3.98COP 12.3K
-9.30%
Banana(1kg)
$3.19A$4.44
$1.58COP 4,878
101.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.48A$4.85
$2.15COP 6,624
61.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.68A$6.53
$2.30COP 7,078
103.48%
Potato(1kg)
$2.65A$3.69
$2.00COP 6,169
32.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.41A$3.36
$1.51COP 4,646
59.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.50A$3.49
$1.20COP 3,701
108.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69A$2.36
$1.28COP 3,946
32.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$40.00A$55.8
$3.84COP 11.8K
941.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.51A$20.22
$14.01COP 43.1K
3.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.17A$7.21
$1.71COP 5,256
202.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50A$7.67
$2.74COP 8,440
100.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.05A$4.26
$1.25COP 3,834
144.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.4A$122
$77.9COP 239.7K
12.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.63A$5.07
$1.31COP 4,016
177.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.67A$2.33
$2.17COP 6,680
-23.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.67A$58.1
$8.29COP 25.5K
402.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25A$1.74
$1.36COP 4,172
-8.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KA$38.8K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
1.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4KA$42.4K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-16.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$214A$298
$169COP 519.2K
26.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.96A$40.38
$13.57COP 41.8K
113.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.0A$76.7
$28.32COP 87.2K
94.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.8A$79.1
$45.71COP 140.7K
24.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.61A$25.94
$17.22COP 53.0K
8.07%
Cinema Ticket
$14.22A$19.83
$6.65COP 20.5K
113.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,203A$3,072
$803COP 2.5M
174.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.7KA$28.8K
$9,190COP 28.3M
124.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.7A$110
$87.4COP 268.8K
-9.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3A$77.0
$59.4COP 182.7K
-6.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111A$155
$139COP 427.5K
-19.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125A$174
$102COP 314.0K
22.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,490A$2,077
$1,071COP 3.3M
39.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,311A$1,828
$653COP 2.0M
100.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,390A$1,938
$1,925COP 5.9M
-27.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,524A$2,125
$1,048COP 3.2M
45.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,699A$9,340
$4,123COP 12.7M
62.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,243A$7,310
$1,697COP 5.2M
208.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,751A$8,018
$655COP 2.0M
777.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.25
10.94
-52.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gladstone: September 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,490 in Gladstone and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gladstone pays 778% 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: $84.0 in Gladstone vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $380 vs $300 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
Gladstone vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Gladstone or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 62% lower than in Gladstone. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Gladstone or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 778% higher in Gladstone, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Gladstone compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,490 in Gladstone versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Gladstone compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,653 per month in Gladstone versus $1,641 in Medellin – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Gladstone compared to Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 12% less than in Gladstone. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Gladstone or in Medellin?
At $1,641 in Medellin versus $2,653 in Gladstone, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Gladstone. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Gladstone or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,641 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Gladstone compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Gladstone 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Gladstone. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.