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 $755 per month in Isa Town vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,783 per month in Isa Town vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,812 per month in Isa Town vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Isa Town is about 55% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Isa Town sits 45% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.78 BHD 2.93

$8.02 COP 25.0K

-2.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.81 BHD 10.10

$47.87 COP 149.4K

-43.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.46 BHD 2.43

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-34.68%

Cappuccino

$4.75 BHD 1.79

$3.13 COP 9,767

51.76%

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

$0.83 BHD 0.31

$1.91 COP 5,954

-56.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 BHD 0.10

$1.51 COP 4,712

-82.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.50 BHD 2.45

$3.12 COP 9,747

108.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 BHD 0.49

$1.44 COP 4,509

-9.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 BHD 0.51

$2.49 COP 7,759

-45.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.19 BHD 1.96

$1.77 COP 5,535

193.22%

Eggs

$3.19 BHD 1.20

$2.96 COP 9,235

7.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.64 BHD 4.01

$10.07 COP 31.4K

5.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.85 BHD 2.96

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-22.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.52 BHD 8.11

$14.30 COP 44.6K

50.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 BHD 1.02

$4.14 COP 12.9K

-34.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.60 BHD 0.98

$1.61 COP 5,019

61.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 BHD 1.03

$2.25 COP 7,007

21.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.71 BHD 1.02

$2.25 COP 7,028

20.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.69 BHD 1.02

$2.04 COP 6,375

31.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 BHD 0.61

$1.54 COP 4,790

5.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 BHD 0.21

$1.17 COP 3,651

-52.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

$1.31 COP 4,077

-17.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 BHD 0.39

$1.22 COP 3,792

-14.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.53 BHD 5.10

$80.5 COP 251.1K

-83.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 BHD 2.03

$1.31 COP 4,084

311.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 BHD 0.29

$1.37 COP 4,260

-43.80%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

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

$13.4K BHD 5,045

$35.8K COP 111.6M

-62.58%

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

$177 COP 553.2K

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.95 BHD 15.06

$29.72 COP 92.8K

34.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$106 BHD 39.86

$44.88 COP 140.1K

135.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$10.45 BHD 3.94

$6.65 COP 20.7K

57.14%

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

$813 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,075 BHD 3,043

$9,187 COP 28.7M

-12.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.99 BHD 15.07

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-55.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.45 BHD 5.07

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-77.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.6 BHD 29.61

$138 COP 431.2K

-43.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 BHD 40.21

$102 COP 318.7K

4.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,316 BHD 496

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-30.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,058 BHD 399

$1,027 COP 3.2M

3.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,050 BHD 396

$678 COP 2.1M

54.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Isa Town: September 15, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 55% 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 $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $276 vs $305 – making Isa Town the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 123%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,133 per month in Isa Town and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $755 in Isa Town and $1,681 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 $48.00 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 $755, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.