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 $732 per month in Isa Town vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,753 per month in Isa Town vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,773 per month in Isa Town vs $2,120 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 45% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.12 BHD 3.05

$5.92 COP 21.5K

37.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.86 BHD 10.10

$32.75 COP 119.1K

-17.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.47 BHD 2.43

$7.20 COP 26.2K

-10.14%

Cappuccino

$4.61 BHD 1.73

$1.70 COP 6,186

171.18%

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

$0.83 BHD 0.31

$1.10 COP 3,996

-24.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 BHD 0.11

$0.72 COP 2,625

-61.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.82 BHD 2.56

$1.67 COP 6,067

308.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 BHD 0.74

$1.06 COP 3,837

86.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.61 BHD 0.61

$1.25 COP 4,531

28.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.81 BHD 1.43

$1.39 COP 5,060

174.10%

Eggs

$2.63 BHD 0.99

$2.26 COP 8,229

16.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.20 BHD 4.96

$4.33 COP 15.8K

204.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 BHD 2.50

$5.84 COP 21.2K

14.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.71 BHD 5.91

$8.83 COP 32.1K

77.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 BHD 0.87

$2.24 COP 8,159

3.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.29 BHD 0.86

$1.08 COP 3,911

112.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 BHD 0.85

$1.53 COP 5,563

48.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 BHD 0.74

$1.37 COP 4,987

43.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.94 BHD 0.73

$1.13 COP 4,109

71.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 BHD 0.56

$1.12 COP 4,067

33.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 BHD 0.36

$0.85 COP 3,080

14.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 BHD 0.30

$0.91 COP 3,305

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,477

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,342

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,617

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 BHD 0.39

$0.79 COP 2,859

31.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.11 BHD 4.93

$41.13 COP 149.6K

-68.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 BHD 2.04

$1.44 COP 5,223

275.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,952

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 29.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 BHD 0.29

$0.94 COP 3,410

-18.09%

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

$17.9K COP 65.2M

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

$13.5K BHD 5,064

$26.8K COP 97.4M

-49.73%

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

$84.0 COP 305.4K

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

$9.60 COP 34.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.28 BHD 15.15

$24.16 COP 87.9K

66.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$105 BHD 39.35

$25.88 COP 94.1K

304.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 69.3K

Cinema Ticket

$10.55 BHD 3.97

$3.92 COP 14.2K

169.13%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,068 BHD 3,034

$5,919 COP 21.5M

36.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.13 BHD 14.71

$57.9 COP 210.6K

-32.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.40 BHD 5.04

$31.82 COP 115.7K

-57.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.8 BHD 29.99

$99.9 COP 363.3K

-20.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 BHD 40.37

$107 COP 389.7K

0.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,325 BHD 498

$826 COP 3.0M

60.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,053 BHD 396

$716 COP 2.6M

46.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,041 BHD 391

$546 COP 2.0M

90.84%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 91% 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 $1,098 per month in Isa Town and $1,550 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $732 in Isa Town and $1,034 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 $732, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.