Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Estevan Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Estevan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $2,272 in Estevan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $3,242 in Estevan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $4,212 in Estevan, rent included.

Medellin is about 24% cheaper than Estevan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Estevan sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Estevan by 65%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.1K
$21.50 CA$29.74
-62.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 150.8K
$69.5 CA$96.2
-30.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.5K
$5.89 CA$8.15
65.87%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,095
$2.11 CA$2.92
37.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,074
$2.29 CA$3.17
-15.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,754
$1.75 CA$2.43
-13.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,663
$6.85 CA$9.48
-54.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 17.9K
$6.26 CA$8.66
-8.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,262
$1.02 CA$1.41
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,460
$1.18 CA$1.63
102.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,314
$3.17 CA$4.39
-46.37%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 8,967
$1.92 CA$2.65
49.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.1K
$13.97 CA$19.34
-28.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.7K
$6.35 CA$8.79
69.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.0K
$16.96 CA$23.47
-13.15%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$4.29 CA$5.94
-4.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,911
$1.20 CA$1.66
30.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,642
$3.92 CA$5.42
-45.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,917
$3.77 CA$5.22
-41.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,396
$2.30 CA$3.18
-10.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,700
$2.44 CA$3.37
-38.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,718
$1.48 CA$2.05
-19.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,619
$0.44 CA$0.61
163.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$15.13 CA$20.93
-74.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.1K
$13.74 CA$19.01
5.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,948
$3.53 CA$4.89
-55.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,836
$3.43 CA$4.74
-17.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,650
$2.34 CA$3.23
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 242.9K
$55.0 CA$76.1
41.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,014
$3.60 CA$4.99
-64.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,537
$0.80 CA$1.11
161.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 26.9K
$21.56 CA$29.84
-60.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,056
$1.09 CA$1.51
19.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.4M
$28.2K CA$39.0K
-1.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 110.9M
$21.1K CA$29.2K
68.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 550.1K
$130 CA$180
35.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 41.8K
$52.5 CA$72.7
-74.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 93.4K
$58.4 CA$80.8
-48.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 139.8K
$44.86 CA$62.1
-0.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.3K
$15.84 CA$21.92
7.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.4K
$9.87 CA$13.65
-37.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$488 CA$675
62.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.2M
$11.0K CA$15.2K
-17.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 267.5K
$51.9 CA$71.8
65.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 182.7K
$39.20 CA$54.2
49.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 425.9K
$94.2 CA$130
44.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 322.2K
$110 CA$153
-6.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$1,280 CA$1,771
-17.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$1,144 CA$1,583
-40.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$1,955 CA$2,705
2.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$1,716 CA$2,374
-31.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.8M
$4,666 CA$6,457
-11.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$3,972 CA$5,497
-57.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
$4,366 CA$6,041
-84.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
4.58
138.86%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Estevan: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $1,280 in Estevan. 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 556% higher in Estevan, 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 $70.0 in Estevan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $305 – 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 Estevan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Estevan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,716 in Medellin, $2,272 in Estevan – roughly 32% apart. Estevan costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Estevan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $3,408 in Estevan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Estevan?
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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Estevan?
Kindergarten costs $793 per month in Medellin and $488 in Estevan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 1% more in Estevan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
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 $1,716, than in Estevan at $2,272. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Estevan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Estevan?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,716 in Medellin to $2,272 in Estevan. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Estevan?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Estevan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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