🙂A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $2,216 in Edmonton, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $3,231 in Edmonton, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $4,245 in Edmonton, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 26% cheaper than Edmonton, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Edmonton sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Edmonton by 61%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Edmonton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$20.53CA$28.47
-60.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$79.7CA$110
-39.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$9.98CA$13.84
-5.61%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$4.04CA$5.60
-27.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$2.19CA$3.04
-15.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$1.92CA$2.66
-23.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$5.87CA$8.14
-45.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$6.58CA$9.13
-13.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Edmonton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$1.68CA$2.33
-14.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$2.23CA$3.09
7.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$3.13CA$4.34
-45.69%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$3.46CA$4.80
-16.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$10.96CA$15.20
-8.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$11.62CA$16.11
-14.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$18.52CA$25.68
-23.33%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$4.44CA$6.16
-10.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$1.35CA$1.87
17.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$4.28CA$5.94
-49.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$4.05CA$5.62
-43.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$2.26CA$3.13
-11.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$1.90CA$2.64
-20.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$2.42CA$3.36
-50.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$1.81CA$2.51
-29.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$14.49CA$20.10
-73.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$11.72CA$16.26
19.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$3.66CA$5.07
-53.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$3.05CA$4.23
-10.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Edmonton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$2.66CA$3.69
-53.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
$72.8CA$101
7.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$3.03CA$4.20
-56.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$1.36CA$1.89
59.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$21.77CA$30.20
-61.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$1.16CA$1.61
17.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$29.2KCA$40.4K
-5.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$19.7KCA$27.4K
85.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Edmonton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$228CA$316
-25.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$41.39CA$57.4
-67.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$55.2CA$76.5
-48.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Edmonton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$48.77CA$67.6
-6.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
$18.21CA$25.25
-5.44%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$12.98CA$18.00
-48.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Edmonton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$783CA$1,086
2.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$9,700CA$13.5K
-5.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Edmonton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$45.17CA$62.7
93.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$47.85CA$66.4
24.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$86.1CA$119
61.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$98.2CA$136
3.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Edmonton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$1,136CA$1,576
-5.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$920CA$1,276
-29.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$1,734CA$2,404
11.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$1,453CA$2,015
-27.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$2,251CA$3,122
83.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$2,112CA$2,929
-19.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Edmonton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$3,780CA$5,243
-82.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.32
153.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Edmonton: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $1,136 in Edmonton. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 477% higher in Edmonton, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $80.0 in Edmonton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $369 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Edmonton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Edmonton compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,641 in Medellin, $2,216 in Edmonton – roughly 35% apart. Edmonton costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Edmonton?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $3,324 in Edmonton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Edmonton?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Edmonton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $2,216 in Edmonton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Edmonton?
Public transport costs about 7% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Edmonton at $2,216. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edmonton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Edmonton?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,641 in Medellin to $2,216 in Edmonton. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Edmonton?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Edmonton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.