Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cairns Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cairns

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 46.6% cheaper than Cairns without rent, and 56.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 53% cheaper than Cairns without rent, and 53.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cairns
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$11.67 A$17.88
-46.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$81.9 A$125
-60.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$10.66 A$16.33
-30.68%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$3.92 A$6.01
-56.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$2.73 A$4.19
-59.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$2.26 A$3.46
-67.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$6.58 A$10.09
-74.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$7.07 A$10.83
-54.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cairns
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.7 A$2.61
-35.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$2.51 A$3.85
-50.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$2.71 A$4.15
-50.92%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$3.93 A$6.02
-43.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$7.87 A$12.06
-42.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$9.19 A$14.08
-37.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$12.84 A$19.67
-33.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$2.99 A$4.58
-24.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$2.31 A$3.53
-53.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$2.66 A$4.07
-43.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$7.39 A$11.32
-80.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$2.28 A$3.5
-51.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$2.23 A$3.42
-47.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$2.27 A$3.47
-60.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$2.88 A$4.42
-70.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$29.83 A$45.69
-92.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$11.03 A$16.89
-15.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$3.39 A$5.2
-65.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$3.52 A$5.39
-29.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cairns
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$3.22 A$4.94
-74.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$65.4 A$100
-35.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$6.44 A$9.86
-78.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$3.13 A$4.8
-37.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$33.86 A$51.9
-76.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.15 A$1.77
-11.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$22.7K A$34.8K
-22.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$19.2K A$29.4K
36.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cairns
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$153 A$234
-46.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$37.09 A$56.8
-74.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$59 A$90.3
-60.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cairns
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$38.89 A$59.6
-33.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$15.92 A$24.39
20.23%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$12.98 A$19.88
-69.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cairns
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$1,628 A$2,494
-81.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$12.1K A$18.5K
-51.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cairns
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$83 A$127
-30.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$66.2 A$101
-52.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$98.2 A$150
5.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$135 A$206
-21.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cairns
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$1,193 A$1,828
-58.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$1,110 A$1,701
-65.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$2,042 A$3,128
-59.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$1,858 A$2,847
-60.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$6,035 A$9,246
-63.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$4,795 A$7,346
-68.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cairns
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$2,813 A$4,310
-80.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.96
92.96%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Cairns: October 27, 2025

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