🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $834 in Goiana versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,346 in Goiana versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,858 in Goiana versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Goiana costs roughly 50% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Goiana is 39% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.47R$28.10
$8.02COP 25.4K
-31.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.57R$188
$47.87COP 152.0K
-23.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.82R$50.5
$9.89COP 31.4K
-0.71%
Cappuccino
$2.45R$12.59
$3.13COP 9,937
-21.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03R$5.31
$1.91COP 6,058
-46.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63R$3.26
$1.51COP 4,794
-58.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.55R$7.96
$3.12COP 9,917
-50.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04R$15.64
$5.75COP 18.3K
-47.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41R$7.23
$1.44COP 4,587
-2.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63R$8.36
$2.49COP 7,894
-34.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61R$8.30
$1.77COP 5,631
-9.04%
Eggs
$1.79R$9.18
$2.96COP 9,396
-39.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.92R$35.58
$10.07COP 32.0K
-31.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.33R$22.27
$10.12COP 32.1K
-57.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.74R$34.64
$14.30COP 45.4K
-52.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.35R$6.92
$4.14COP 13.1K
-67.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30R$6.68
$1.61COP 5,106
-19.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.73R$3.75
$2.25COP 7,129
-67.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.19R$6.13
$2.25COP 7,150
-47.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38R$7.11
$2.04COP 6,486
-32.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10R$5.66
$1.54COP 4,873
-28.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48R$2.44
$1.17COP 3,715
-58.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88R$4.52
$1.31COP 4,148
-32.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.76R$9.05
$3.90COP 12.4K
-54.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.84R$40.32
$14.01COP 44.5K
-44.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14R$5.86
$1.74COP 5,534
-34.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53R$7.88
$2.87COP 9,112
-46.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05R$5.41
$1.22COP 3,858
-13.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.91R$226
$80.5COP 255.5K
-45.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23R$6.33
$1.31COP 4,155
-6.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76R$3.92
$2.19COP 6,944
-65.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.51R$18.04
$8.71COP 27.7K
-59.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05R$5.41
$1.37COP 4,334
-23.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6KR$121.1K
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
-15.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3KR$166.0K
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
-9.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.7R$394
$177COP 562.9K
-56.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.23R$68.0
$13.88COP 44.1K
-4.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.05R$87.7
$29.72COP 94.4K
-42.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.82R$117
$44.88COP 142.5K
-49.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.45R$131
$17.12COP 54.4K
48.66%
Cinema Ticket
$8.42R$43.29
$6.65COP 21.1K
26.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$234R$1,202
$813COP 2.6M
-71.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6KR$59.5K
$9,187COP 29.2M
25.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.59R$224
$89.5COP 284.1K
-51.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.98R$252
$59.0COP 187.2K
-16.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.2R$310
$138COP 438.8K
-56.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.5R$414
$102COP 324.2K
-21.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$384R$1,977
$1,062COP 3.4M
-63.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$214R$1,098
$663COP 2.1M
-67.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$598R$3,075
$1,888COP 6.0M
-68.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$451R$2,319
$1,027COP 3.3M
-56.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,497R$7,700
$4,183COP 13.3M
-64.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,131R$5,817
$1,675COP 5.3M
-32.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Goiana
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$590R$3,035
$678COP 2.2M
-12.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.75
10.94
7.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Goiana: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $384 in Goiana and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 15% 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: $37.00 in Goiana vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $305 per month, with Goiana 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
Goiana vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Goiana and in Medellin?
Goiana and Medellin differ by about 102% in total monthly costs ($834 vs $1,681 including rent). Goiana is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Goiana and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $384 in Goiana versus $1,062 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 $37.00 versus $48.00 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 $834 per month in Goiana versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 102% 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 $834 in Goiana versus $1,681 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 102% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.