🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $348 in Ismailia versus $1,031 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $598 in Ismailia versus $1,599 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $847 in Ismailia versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Ismailia costs roughly 66% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ismailia74% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ismailia
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.50E£179
$6.16COP 20.1K
-43.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.57E£795
$32.60COP 106.1K
-52.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.49E£229
$7.34COP 23.9K
-38.83%
Cappuccino
$1.01E£51.6
$1.72COP 5,599
-41.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29E£14.81
$1.05COP 3,420
-72.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.09E£4.83
$0.77COP 2,515
-88.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.20E£61.5
$1.69COP 5,487
-28.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99E£102
$3.17COP 10.3K
-37.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ismailia
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82E£41.71
$1.05COP 3,423
-21.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.39E£19.89
$1.30COP 4,236
-70.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.61E£31.35
$1.40COP 4,544
-56.43%
Eggs
$1.40E£71.6
$2.16COP 7,046
-35.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.00E£153
$4.39COP 14.3K
-31.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.61E£184
$5.88COP 19.1K
-38.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.14E£415
$8.64COP 28.1K
-5.79%
Apples(1kg)
$1.43E£73.0
$2.28COP 7,425
-37.28%
Banana(1kg)
$0.58E£29.74
$1.11COP 3,603
-47.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.39E£19.80
$1.53COP 4,982
-74.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.29E£14.68
$1.35COP 4,410
-78.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38E£19.36
$1.13COP 3,674
-66.37%
Onion(1kg)
$0.39E£19.88
$1.13COP 3,692
-65.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.21E£10.78
$0.85COP 2,753
-75.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.17E£8.84
$0.91COP 2,975
-81.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.64E£83.7
$2.34COP 7,629
-29.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.01E£307
$12.37COP 40.3K
-51.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02E£51.9
$1.20COP 3,909
-15.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02E£103
$2.49COP 8,104
-18.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Ismailia
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27E£13.81
$0.84COP 2,727
-67.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.01E£205
$40.57COP 132.1K
-90.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31E£15.63
$1.42COP 4,623
-78.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43E£21.92
$1.92COP 6,235
-77.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.02E£103
$7.66COP 24.9K
-73.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33E£17.03
$0.99COP 3,223
-66.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0KE£1.5M
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
66.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.0KE£815.9K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-39.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ismailia
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$11.32E£578
$80.8COP 263.1K
-85.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.73E£292
$9.95COP 32.4K
-42.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.68E£392
$24.18COP 78.7K
-68.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ismailia
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.00E£613
$25.08COP 81.6K
-52.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.86E£1,014
$19.15COP 62.3K
3.71%
Cinema Ticket
$2.01E£103
$3.98COP 13.0K
-49.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ismailia
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$89.2E£4,553
$305COP 993.4K
-70.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,243E£63.5K
$6,059COP 19.7M
-79.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ismailia
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$12.72E£649
$58.1COP 189.2K
-78.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.69E£495
$32.20COP 104.8K
-69.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107E£5,451
$101COP 327.9K
6.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.6E£2,581
$108COP 350.8K
-53.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ismailia
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$89.2E£4,553
$477COP 1.6M
-81.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$40.26E£2,055
$376COP 1.2M
-89.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$146E£7,430
$845COP 2.7M
-82.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$87.8E£4,480
$730COP 2.4M
-87.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$505E£25.8K
$3,215COP 10.5M
-84.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$138E£7,034
$1,372COP 4.5M
-89.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ismailia
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$109E£5,567
$617COP 2.0M
-82.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17
13.43
26.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ismailia: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $89.2 in Ismailia and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 466% 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: $16.00 in Ismailia vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $111 vs $193 per month, with Ismailia 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
Ismailia vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ismailia or Medellin?
Ismailia wins on cost – living expenses run 196% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ismailia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ismailia or in Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 466% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ismailia compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $89.2 in Ismailia versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ismailia and in Medellin?
Childcare runs $89.2 in Ismailia versus $305 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Ismailia or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 74% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ismailia or in Medellin?
At $348 in Ismailia versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ismailia but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Ismailia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ismailia or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ismailia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $348 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ismailia hard to pass up.
How safe is Ismailia compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Ismailia and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ismailia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 196% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.