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 $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $2,684 in English Harbour, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,991 in English Harbour, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,299 in English Harbour, rent included.

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

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while English Harbour is 101% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
English Harbour
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$11.08 EC$29.91
-44.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$110 EC$298
-70.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$8.13 EC$21.95
-9.72%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$4.92 EC$13.29
-65.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$2.16 EC$5.82
-51.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$1.10 EC$2.97
-30.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$3.67 EC$9.90
-13.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
English Harbour
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$2.48 EC$6.69
-57.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$2.52 EC$6.81
-48.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$1.46 EC$3.94
-4.11%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$3.74 EC$10.11
-42.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$4.17 EC$11.25
-73.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$2.17 EC$5.86
-60.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$1.51 EC$4.08
-39.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$5.75 EC$15.53
-79.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
English Harbour
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$1.38 EC$3.72
-39.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
English Harbour
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
English Harbour
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
English Harbour
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
English Harbour
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
English Harbour
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$3,035 EC$8,196
-84.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$2,366 EC$6,388
-84.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$3,528 EC$9,526
-76.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$5,985 EC$16.2K
-46.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
English Harbour
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
0
-

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for English Harbour: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $3,035 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 $110 in English Harbour. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $151 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
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or English Harbour?
English Harbour costs about 160% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in English Harbour?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $4,026 in English Harbour. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or English Harbour?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to English Harbour?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $2,684 in English Harbour. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in English Harbour?
Interestingly, groceries are about 27% cheaper in English Harbour – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or in English Harbour?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in English Harbour at $2,684. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in English Harbour it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or English Harbour?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,031 versus $2,684 in English Harbour. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Medellin compared to English Harbour?
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.
Should I move to Medellin or to English Harbour?
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.

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