🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,899 in Fredericton.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $2,913 in Fredericton.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $3,926 in Fredericton.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 46% less than in Fredericton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Fredericton is 42% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Fredericton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$14.98CA$21.00
-58.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$54.3CA$76.2
-40.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$11.16CA$15.65
-34.23%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,600
$4.03CA$5.65
-57.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$2.59CA$3.63
-59.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$2.12CA$2.97
-63.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,488
$5.13CA$7.19
-67.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$5.42CA$7.60
-41.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Fredericton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.96CA$2.75
-46.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$2.88CA$4.03
-54.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$2.98CA$4.18
-53.02%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,047
$3.62CA$5.08
-40.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$11.54CA$16.18
-61.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$9.63CA$13.51
-38.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$8.64CA$12.12
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,426
$4.92CA$6.89
-53.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,604
$1.59CA$2.23
-30.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,983
$3.95CA$5.54
-61.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$5.64CA$7.91
-76.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$1.85CA$2.59
-38.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$1.56CA$2.19
-27.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$2.53CA$3.55
-66.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$1.57CA$2.21
-42.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,630
$11.87CA$16.64
-80.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$11.98CA$16.79
3.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$3.25CA$4.56
-63.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$4.68CA$6.56
-46.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Fredericton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,728
$2.15CA$3.01
-60.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$58.2CA$81.5
-30.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$5.76CA$8.07
-75.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$1.77CA$2.49
8.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$44.76CA$62.8
-82.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.27CA$1.78
-22.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$24.9KCA$34.9K
-27.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$20.1KCA$28.1K
32.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Fredericton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$136CA$190
-40.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$56.5CA$79.2
-82.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$77.6CA$109
-68.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Fredericton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.7K
$41.11CA$57.6
-38.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$26.18CA$36.70
-26.85%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$11.06CA$15.51
-64.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Fredericton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.5K
$596CA$836
-48.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$1,758CA$2,465
244.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Fredericton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$52.7CA$73.8
10.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$41.44CA$58.1
-22.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$81.3CA$114
23.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$85.7CA$120
25.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Fredericton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$1,110CA$1,556
-57.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$797CA$1,117
-52.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$1,799CA$2,522
-53.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$1,520CA$2,131
-51.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$1,885CA$2,642
70.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$1,887CA$2,646
-27.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Fredericton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$2,383CA$3,341
-74.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.44
108.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Fredericton: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $1,110 in Fredericton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fredericton pays 286% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $54.0 in Fredericton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $349 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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 Fredericton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fredericton cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Fredericton?
On paper, salaries run 286% lower in Fredericton. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Fredericton?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $1,110 in Fredericton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 43% less than in Fredericton. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $305 in Medellin versus $596 in Fredericton. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Fredericton?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,899 in Fredericton, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Fredericton. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Fredericton more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Fredericton, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Fredericton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.