😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,259 in Gladstone versus $1,003 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,128 in Gladstone versus $1,573 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,998 in Gladstone versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Gladstone is roughly 125% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gladstone is 70% above, Medellin is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.00A$22.99
$5.91COP 18.9K
170.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.1A$114
$32.96COP 105.2K
139.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.58A$13.75
$7.43COP 23.7K
28.94%
Cappuccino
$3.52A$5.06
$1.65COP 5,276
113.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52A$3.62
$1.10COP 3,514
129.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12A$3.05
$0.78COP 2,491
171.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.45A$9.26
$1.72COP 5,484
275.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10A$10.20
$3.18COP 10.1K
123.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50A$2.15
$1.10COP 3,521
36.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45A$3.51
$1.26COP 4,015
94.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.03A$2.91
$1.38COP 4,407
47.10%
Eggs
$4.30A$6.18
$2.18COP 6,950
97.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.77A$12.59
$4.49COP 14.3K
95.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.52A$12.24
$5.79COP 18.5K
47.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.43A$19.29
$8.97COP 28.6K
49.72%
Apples(1kg)
$3.34A$4.80
$2.32COP 7,405
43.97%
Banana(1kg)
$2.74A$3.94
$1.06COP 3,397
158.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.90A$4.16
$1.52COP 4,838
90.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.09A$5.88
$1.36COP 4,327
200.74%
Potato(1kg)
$2.48A$3.57
$1.13COP 3,599
119.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19A$3.15
$1.17COP 3,738
87.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.09A$3.00
$0.90COP 2,876
132.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59A$2.28
$0.90COP 2,861
76.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$30.93A$44.43
$2.23COP 7,128
1287.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.93A$20.01
$12.12COP 38.7K
14.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.50A$6.46
$1.19COP 3,793
278.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.28A$7.58
$2.48COP 7,920
112.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.56A$3.68
$0.85COP 2,723
201.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.0A$93.3
$41.62COP 132.8K
56.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.59A$5.16
$1.42COP 4,518
152.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.61A$2.31
$1.95COP 6,223
-17.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.15A$47.62
$7.89COP 25.2K
320.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13A$1.62
$0.99COP 3,160
14.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1KA$41.8K
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
65.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9KA$32.9K
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
-14.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$184A$264
$83.0COP 264.9K
121.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.97A$37.30
$9.70COP 30.9K
167.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.4A$73.8
$23.52COP 75.0K
118.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.19A$69.2
$25.26COP 80.6K
90.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.54A$22.32
$19.10COP 60.9K
-18.64%
Cinema Ticket
$12.84A$18.44
$3.95COP 12.6K
225.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,602A$2,301
$316COP 1.0M
407.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KA$17.1K
$5,975COP 19.1M
98.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.6A$97.1
$60.0COP 191.4K
12.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6A$72.7
$31.82COP 101.5K
58.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.6A$140
$102COP 324.4K
-4.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105A$152
$107COP 342.8K
-1.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,252A$1,799
$475COP 1.5M
163.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,076A$1,546
$374COP 1.2M
187.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,291A$1,854
$849COP 2.7M
52.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,379A$1,981
$719COP 2.3M
91.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,259A$7,554
$3,265COP 10.4M
61.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,234A$7,518
$1,441COP 4.6M
263.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gladstone
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,482A$7,874
$624COP 2.0M
777.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
13.43
-52.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gladstone: July 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,252 in Gladstone and $475 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: $79.0 in Gladstone vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $339 vs $193 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 125% 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: $1,252 in Gladstone versus $475 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 $2,259 per month in Gladstone versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 125% 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 56% less than in Gladstone. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Gladstone or in Medellin?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $2,259 in Gladstone, a $1,500 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 $1,003 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 125% less than in Gladstone. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.