🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $737 in Goiana versus $1,013 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,227 in Goiana versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,717 in Goiana versus $2,192 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Goiana costs roughly 27% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Goiana45% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.79R$28.96
$5.99COP 21.4K
-3.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.77R$179
$32.86COP 117.4K
8.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.37R$31.87
$7.09COP 25.3K
-10.16%
Cappuccino
$1.75R$8.78
$1.71COP 6,115
2.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17R$5.83
$1.10COP 3,924
6.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67R$3.36
$0.78COP 2,781
-14.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.59R$7.98
$1.68COP 5,997
-5.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11R$10.54
$3.07COP 11.0K
-31.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11R$5.55
$1.09COP 3,906
1.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25R$6.24
$1.26COP 4,508
-0.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02R$5.09
$1.38COP 4,922
-26.09%
Eggs
$1.83R$9.14
$2.19COP 7,827
-16.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.45R$32.29
$4.40COP 15.7K
46.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.57R$17.88
$5.63COP 20.1K
-36.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.28R$31.40
$8.89COP 31.8K
-29.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.13R$10.64
$2.34COP 8,349
-8.97%
Banana(1kg)
$0.88R$4.43
$1.06COP 3,777
-16.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.87R$4.33
$1.50COP 5,374
-42.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.17R$5.87
$1.38COP 4,924
-15.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00R$4.98
$1.15COP 4,111
-13.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03R$5.15
$1.16COP 4,155
-11.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52R$2.61
$0.89COP 3,182
-41.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52R$2.60
$0.84COP 2,997
-38.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.61R$8.05
$2.28COP 8,145
-29.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98R$39.95
$10.64COP 38.0K
-25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28R$6.40
$1.20COP 4,284
6.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54R$12.69
$2.47COP 8,824
2.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87R$4.38
$0.86COP 3,056
1.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.44R$192
$41.40COP 147.9K
-7.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94R$4.73
$1.47COP 5,264
-36.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62R$3.09
$1.96COP 7,009
-68.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.80R$54.0
$7.74COP 27.6K
39.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92R$4.62
$0.95COP 3,409
-3.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3KR$106.4K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
17.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4KR$157.0K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
18.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.32R$217
$82.3COP 293.7K
-47.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.44R$62.3
$9.50COP 33.9K
30.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.71R$93.6
$24.23COP 86.5K
-22.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.74R$114
$25.89COP 92.4K
-12.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.49R$108
$19.00COP 67.9K
13.11%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63R$33.16
$3.93COP 14.0K
68.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$117R$587
$309COP 1.1M
-62.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,264R$21.3K
$5,965COP 21.3M
-28.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.1R$301
$58.7COP 209.5K
2.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.40R$212
$32.35COP 115.5K
31.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.9R$280
$103COP 366.4K
-45.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.2R$356
$108COP 387.2K
-34.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$314R$1,570
$476COP 1.7M
-34.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$214R$1,070
$379COP 1.4M
-43.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$577R$2,889
$838COP 3.0M
-31.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$436R$2,183
$724COP 2.6M
-39.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,777R$8,893
$2,791COP 10.0M
-36.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,172R$5,866
$1,211COP 4.3M
-3.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$606R$3,031
$512COP 1.8M
18.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
13.43
-10.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Goiana: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $314 in Goiana and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Goiana pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Goiana vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $157 vs $188, with Goiana cheaper for home cooking.
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
Goiana vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Goiana and Medellin?
Goiana and Medellin differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($737 vs $1,013 including rent). Goiana is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Goiana or Medellin?
Goiana pays 18% 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 Goiana and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $314 in Goiana versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Goiana – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Goiana or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $737 per month in Goiana versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $737 in Goiana versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Goiana but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Goiana the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Goiana 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.
Where should expats move: Goiana or Medellin?
Expats usually find Goiana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.