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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,014 per month in Medellin vs $2,250 in Estevan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,596 per month in Medellin vs $3,286 in Estevan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,178 per month in Medellin vs $4,323 in Estevan, rent included.

Medellin is about 55% cheaper than Estevan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Estevan is 67% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COP 22.2K
$22.47 CA$30.79
-72.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COP 119.3K
$74.8 CA$103
-55.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COP 26.4K
$5.92 CA$8.11
23.65%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COP 5,987
$2.20 CA$3.01
-24.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,987
$2.31 CA$3.17
-52.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,822
$1.89 CA$2.59
-58.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 6,188
$5.94 CA$8.14
-71.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.5K
$5.93 CA$8.12
-46.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COP 4,012
$0.96 CA$1.32
15.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,719
$1.21 CA$1.66
8.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,980
$3.16 CA$4.33
-56.33%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 8,009
$1.96 CA$2.68
13.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.7K
$11.60 CA$15.89
-62.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.9K
$6.32 CA$8.66
-8.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COP 32.4K
$17.98 CA$24.64
-50.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 8,164
$3.62 CA$4.96
-37.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,023
$1.27 CA$1.74
-12.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COP 5,284
$4.27 CA$5.85
-65.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,929
$3.52 CA$4.82
-61.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,009
$3.31 CA$4.54
-66.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,199
$2.82 CA$3.87
-58.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,211
$1.51 CA$2.07
-41.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,124
$0.41 CA$0.56
112.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,495
$14.91 CA$20.43
-84.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COP 39.2K
$13.35 CA$18.29
-18.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,330
$3.68 CA$5.04
-67.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,946
$2.94 CA$4.03
-15.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,842
$2.39 CA$3.27
-66.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COP 147.2K
$63.4 CA$86.8
-35.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 5,137
$3.23 CA$4.43
-56.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,900
$0.67 CA$0.92
185.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COP 27.6K
$29.53 CA$40.45
-74.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,490
$1.11 CA$1.51
-12.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 65.3M
$25.4K CA$34.8K
-28.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COP 95.0M
$20.0K CA$27.4K
31.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 293.5K
$136 CA$186
-40.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COP 34.8K
$51.1 CA$70.0
-81.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COP 88.0K
$50.4 CA$69.0
-51.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COP 93.9K
$41.65 CA$57.1
-37.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COP 68.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COP 14.0K
$9.27 CA$12.69
-58.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COP 1.1M
$490 CA$672
-37.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COP 21.3M
$11.1K CA$15.2K
-46.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 211.8K
$62.7 CA$86.0
-6.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COP 117.2K
$32.61 CA$44.67
-0.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 367.3K
$85.1 CA$117
19.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 390.4K
$108 CA$148
-0.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COP 1.7M
$1,307 CA$1,791
-63.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$1,172 CA$1,606
-68.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COP 3.1M
$1,998 CA$2,737
-57.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$1,810 CA$2,479
-60.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COP 10.4M
$3,835 CA$5,254
-25.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COP 5.0M
$3,112 CA$4,264
-55.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Estevan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COP 2.0M
$4,353 CA$5,964
-87.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.47
107.57%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

Last update for Estevan: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Medellin versus $1,307 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 704% 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 $33 in Medellin versus $75 in Estevan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $300 – 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 Estevan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,014 in Medellin, $2,250 in Estevan – roughly 122% 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 $1,522 per month in Medellin and $3,375 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 $304 per month in Medellin and $490 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 58% 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 $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,014, than in Estevan at $2,250. 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 $1,014 in Medellin to $2,250 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.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities