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 $720 per month in Isa Town vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,710 per month in Isa Town vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,701 per month in Isa Town vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Isa Town is about 29% 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 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.06 BHD 3.04

$5.95 COP 20.8K

35.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.59 BHD 10.02

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-20.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.83 BHD 2.57

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-5.53%

Cappuccino

$4.58 BHD 1.72

$1.63 COP 5,687

180.98%

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

$0.89 BHD 0.33

$1.09 COP 3,821

-18.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 BHD 0.10

$0.73 COP 2,548

-64.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.78 BHD 2.56

$1.74 COP 6,065

289.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 BHD 0.74

$1.05 COP 3,662

86.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 BHD 0.58

$1.29 COP 4,515

20.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.76 BHD 1.42

$1.32 COP 4,617

184.85%

Eggs

$2.65 BHD 1.00

$2.27 COP 7,927

16.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.36 BHD 5.04

$4.35 COP 15.2K

207.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.78 BHD 2.56

$5.88 COP 20.5K

15.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.68 BHD 5.91

$8.61 COP 30.0K

82.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 BHD 0.85

$2.25 COP 7,844

0.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 BHD 0.84

$1.07 COP 3,733

108.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 BHD 0.87

$1.52 COP 5,322

51.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 BHD 0.74

$1.42 COP 4,964

37.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 BHD 0.77

$1.17 COP 4,084

74.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 BHD 0.54

$1.17 COP 4,077

21.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 BHD 0.36

$0.89 COP 3,096

8.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 BHD 0.32

$0.90 COP 3,146

-6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

$0.84 COP 2,916

28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.41 BHD 5.05

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-68.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.17 BHD 1.95

$1.41 COP 4,912

266.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 BHD 0.31

$1.01 COP 3,509

-19.80%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$13.5K BHD 5,092

$26.5K COP 92.5M

-49.01%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.10 BHD 15.11

$24.11 COP 84.1K

66.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$105 BHD 39.54

$25.31 COP 88.3K

314.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$10.41 BHD 3.92

$4.10 COP 14.3K

153.90%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,879 BHD 2,970

$5,993 COP 20.9M

31.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.05 BHD 15.10

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-31.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.08 BHD 4.93

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-59.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.0 BHD 30.53

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-18.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 BHD 40.17

$109 COP 378.8K

-1.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,330 BHD 501

$837 COP 2.9M

58.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,046 BHD 394

$723 COP 2.5M

44.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,070 BHD 403

$541 COP 1.9M

97.79%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 98% 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 – $248 in Isa Town vs $190 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 41%, 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 $1,079 per month in Isa Town and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $720 in Isa Town and $1,017 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 $720, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.