Cost of Living Comparison Between Isa Town and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Isa Town and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $722 per month in Isa Town vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,737 per month in Isa Town vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,753 per month in Isa Town vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Isa Town is about 28% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Isa Town and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Isa Town 46% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.88 BHD 2.97

$5.91 COP 18.6K

33.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.03 BHD 10.19

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-17.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.75 BHD 2.55

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-9.15%

Cappuccino

$4.69 BHD 1.77

$1.65 COP 5,207

184.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 BHD 0.33

$1.10 COP 3,468

-20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 BHD 0.10

$0.78 COP 2,458

-66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.66 BHD 2.51

$1.72 COP 5,412

287.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 BHD 0.76

$1.10 COP 3,474

83.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 BHD 0.59

$1.26 COP 3,962

25.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.65 BHD 1.38

$1.38 COP 4,349

164.49%

Eggs

$2.64 BHD 0.99

$2.18 COP 6,858

21.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.13 BHD 4.95

$4.49 COP 14.1K

192.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 BHD 2.47

$5.79 COP 18.2K

13.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.99 BHD 6.02

$8.97 COP 28.2K

78.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 BHD 0.87

$2.32 COP 7,308

-0.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 BHD 0.84

$1.06 COP 3,352

110.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 BHD 0.86

$1.52 COP 4,774

50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 BHD 0.77

$1.36 COP 4,270

50.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.94 BHD 0.73

$1.13 COP 3,552

71.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 BHD 0.57

$1.17 COP 3,689

28.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 BHD 0.34

$0.90 COP 2,838

1.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 BHD 0.30

$0.90 COP 2,823

-12.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 BHD 0.39

$0.85 COP 2,687

21.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.05 BHD 4.92

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-68.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.34 BHD 2.01

$1.42 COP 4,459

276.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

$0.99 COP 3,118

-16.16%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 55.4M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$13.4K BHD 5,054

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-49.96%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 COP 261.4K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.70 COP 30.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.09 BHD 14.73

$23.52 COP 74.1K

66.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$105 BHD 39.46

$25.26 COP 79.5K

314.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$10.57 BHD 3.98

$3.95 COP 12.4K

167.59%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 994.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,822 BHD 2,948

$5,975 COP 18.8M

30.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.00 BHD 15.08

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-33.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.05 BHD 4.92

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-58.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.5 BHD 29.57

$102 COP 320.1K

-22.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 BHD 39.57

$107 COP 338.3K

-2.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,314 BHD 495

$849 COP 2.7M

54.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 BHD 403

$719 COP 2.3M

48.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,059 BHD 399

$624 COP 2.0M

69.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Isa Town: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 70% higher in Isa Town, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Isa Town versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $247 in Isa Town vs $193 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Isa Town vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,082 per month in Isa Town and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $722 in Isa Town and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Isa Town and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Isa Town, where all-in costs run around $722, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Isa Town it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Isa Town – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Isa Town. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.