Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and English Harbour Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and English Harbour

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $2,653 in English Harbour, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,966 in English Harbour, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,278 in English Harbour, rent included.

Medellin is about 62% cheaper than English Harbour, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while English Harbour is 98% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$11.19 EC$30.22

-46.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$113 EC$305

-70.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$8.58 EC$23.16

-17.37%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$4.79 EC$12.92

-64.30%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$2.26 EC$6.11

-51.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$1.08 EC$2.92

-27.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$3.62 EC$9.77

-15.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$2.38 EC$6.43

-54.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$2.65 EC$7.16

-52.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.46 EC$3.93

-5.48%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$3.78 EC$10.21

-42.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$4.14 EC$11.18

-74.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$2.19 EC$5.92

-59.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.50 EC$4.05

-44.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$5.49 EC$14.81

-78.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$1.37 EC$3.69

-37.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$2,971 EC$8,023

-83.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$2,376 EC$6,416

-84.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$3,456 EC$9,330

-75.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$6,017 EC$16.2K

-53.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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 Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for English Harbour: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $2,971 in English Harbour. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $113 in English Harbour. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Medellin vs $150 in English Harbour – so English Harbour 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

Medellin vs English Harbour: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

English Harbour costs about 162% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $3,980 in English Harbour. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $2,653 in English Harbour. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 25% cheaper in English Harbour – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in English Harbour at $2,653. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in English Harbour it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,013 versus $2,653 in English Harbour. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, English Harbour makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.