Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Gatineau Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Gatineau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $2,073 in Gatineau, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $3,126 in Gatineau, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $4,179 in Gatineau, rent included.

Medellin is about 17% cheaper than Gatineau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Gatineau sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Gatineau by 51%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 COP 25.3K

$11.79 CA$16.38

-31.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.26 COP 152.3K

$87.3 CA$121

-44.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 COP 30.8K

$10.95 CA$15.21

-10.78%

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,185

$3.21 CA$4.46

-9.35%

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

$1.94 COP 6,134

$1.40 CA$1.95

38.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 COP 4,801

$1.59 CA$2.21

-4.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,759

$5.01 CA$6.96

-38.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 18.1K

$6.38 CA$8.86

-10.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,304

$1.96 CA$2.72

-30.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,534

$2.97 CA$4.12

-19.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,366

$5.39 CA$7.50

-68.46%

Eggs

$2.87 COP 9,056

$3.36 CA$4.67

-14.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 COP 31.4K

$12.16 CA$16.90

-18.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 COP 34.0K

$10.05 CA$13.97

7.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 COP 46.5K

$10.96 CA$15.23

34.40%

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 COP 12.9K

$4.17 CA$5.79

-1.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,960

$1.88 CA$2.61

-16.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,708

$4.72 CA$6.56

-54.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,985

$4.78 CA$6.64

-53.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,460

$2.11 CA$2.93

-2.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 COP 4,747

$2.46 CA$3.42

-39.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,755

$2.12 CA$2.95

-43.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,654

$2.67 CA$3.72

-56.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.3K

$12.21 CA$16.96

-68.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.6K

$12.46 CA$17.32

15.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,997

$2.81 CA$3.90

-43.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,923

$3.37 CA$4.68

-16.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,686

$3.33 CA$4.63

-64.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 245.3K

$81.9 CA$114

-5.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,054

$4.98 CA$6.92

-74.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,602

$2.40 CA$3.33

-12.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 27.2K

$33.40 CA$46.41

-74.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,096

$1.18 CA$1.63

10.17%

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

$27.7K COP 87.3M

$28.5K CA$39.7K

-3.12%

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

$35.5K COP 112.0M

$19.4K CA$27.0K

83.02%

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

$176 COP 555.6K

$116 CA$162

51.16%

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

$13.37 COP 42.2K

$36.85 CA$51.2

-63.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.89 COP 94.3K

$49.40 CA$68.6

-39.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 141.2K

$48.45 CA$67.3

-7.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.8K

$29.49 CA$40.98

-42.15%

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.6K

$10.76 CA$14.95

-42.38%

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

$793 COP 2.5M

$569 CA$790

39.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 COP 270.1K

$72.4 CA$101

18.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 184.5K

$44.13 CA$61.3

32.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 430.1K

$89.4 CA$124

52.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 325.4K

$118 CA$164

-12.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

$1,107 CA$1,538

-4.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

$979 CA$1,361

-30.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

$1,850 CA$2,571

8.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

$1,527 CA$2,122

-23.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 13.0M

$5,279 CA$7,336

-22.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.4M

$6,252 CA$8,688

-72.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 COP 2.1M

$2,622 CA$3,644

-74.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

4.64

135.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Gatineau: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $1,107 in Gatineau. 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 294% higher in Gatineau, 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 $87.0 in Gatineau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $376 – 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 Gatineau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gatineau costs about 21% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $3,109 in Gatineau. 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 $1,716 in Medellin and $2,073 in Gatineau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 5% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Gatineau at $2,073. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gatineau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,716 versus $2,073 in Gatineau. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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