🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,716 in Medellin versus $1,732 in Ada, OK.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,527 in Medellin versus $2,585 in Ada, OK.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,338 in Medellin versus $3,438 in Ada, OK.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 1% less than in Ada, OK, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin25% above, Ada, OK26% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ada, OK
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.1K
$18.77$18.77
-57.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 150.8K
$49.84$49.84
-3.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.5K
$11.78$11.78
-17.06%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,095
$3.96$3.96
-26.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,074
$2.34$2.34
-17.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,754
$2.03$2.03
-25.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,663
$3.04$3.04
1.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 17.9K
$4.41$4.41
30.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ada, OK
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,262
$0.97$0.97
40.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,460
$3.26$3.26
-26.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,314
$3.41$3.41
-50.15%
Eggs
$2.87COP 8,967
$4.69$4.69
-38.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.1K
$6.50$6.50
52.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.7K
$11.10$11.10
-2.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.0K
$18.82$18.82
-21.73%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$4.81$4.81
-14.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,911
$1.62$1.62
-3.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,642
$3.47$3.47
-38.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,917
$4.25$4.25
-48.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,396
$1.35$1.35
51.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,700
$1.60$1.60
-6.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,718
$1.66$1.66
-28.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,619
$0.97$0.97
19.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$5.91$5.91
-34.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.1K
$15.05$15.05
-4.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,948
$3.39$3.39
-53.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,836
$4.67$4.67
-39.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ada, OK
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,650
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 242.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,014
$2.95$2.95
-56.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,537
$1.79$1.79
16.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 26.9K
$24.25$24.25
-64.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,056
$0.74$0.74
75.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.4M
$35.8K$35.8K
-22.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 110.9M
$28.2K$28.2K
25.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ada, OK
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 550.1K
$199$199
-11.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 41.8K
$66.1$66.1
-79.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 93.4K
$71.0$71.0
-57.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ada, OK
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 139.8K
$34.80$34.80
28.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.4K
$11.53$11.53
-46.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ada, OK
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$2,100$2,100
-62.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.2M
$24.7K$24.7K
-63.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ada, OK
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 267.5K
$45.05$45.05
90.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 182.7K
$48.99$48.99
19.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 425.9K
$92.9$92.9
46.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 322.2K
$104$104
-0.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ada, OK
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$658$658
61.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$544$544
24.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$1,019$1,019
97.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$974$974
19.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.8M
$1,491$1,491
175.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$1,507$1,507
12.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ada, OK
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.34
72.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ada, OK: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,060 in Medellin and $658 in Ada, OK. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $50.0 in Ada, OK for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $357 per month, with Medellin 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
Medellin vs Ada, OK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Ada, OK?
Medellin and Ada, OK differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($1,716 vs $1,732 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Ada, OK?
You'd need roughly $2,574 in Medellin and $2,598 in Ada, OK to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Ada, OK?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,060 in Medellin versus $658 in Ada, OK. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Ada, OK. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Ada, OK?
All in, you'll spend $1,716 per month in Medellin versus $1,732 in Ada, OK – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,716 in Medellin versus $1,732 in Ada, OK, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Ada, OK. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Ada, OK?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Ada, OK?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Ada, OK. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.