Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and George Town

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,614 a month against $4,936 in George Town, rent and utilities included – about $39,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
George Town
🇰🇾 Cayman Islands
$4,936
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in George Town

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in George Town actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,614 in Medellin versus $4,936 in George Town.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • George Town $4,936

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,402 in Medellin versus $7,405 in George Town.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • George Town $7,405

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,190 in Medellin versus $9,875 in George Town.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • George Town $9,875

Living in Medellin costs roughly 67% less than in George Town, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 20% above, George Town 266% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
George Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$30.24 KYD 24.80
-73.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.3K
$115 KYD 94.0
-59.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$16.97 KYD 13.91
-44.02%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,866
$7.16 KYD 5.87
-56.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,800
$2.99 KYD 2.45
-38.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,360
$2.86 KYD 2.35
-51.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,672
$7.10 KYD 5.82
-57.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$9.42 KYD 7.73
-41.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
George Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,600
$4.67 KYD 3.83
-68.95%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,496
$4.23 KYD 3.47
-44.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,328
$4.40 KYD 3.61
-61.82%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,077
$7.29 KYD 5.98
-60.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$55.9 KYD 45.87
-81.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$18.98 KYD 15.56
-49.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
$19.38 KYD 15.89
-27.55%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$7.47 KYD 6.12
-45.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,742
$3.62 KYD 2.96
-58.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,891
$6.01 KYD 4.93
-63.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,310
$7.95 KYD 6.52
-70.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,113
$4.03 KYD 3.31
-52.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,196
$3.96 KYD 3.24
-58.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,571
$3.18 KYD 2.61
-64.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,954
$2.25 KYD 1.85
-44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$14.50 KYD 11.89
-72.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$25.15 KYD 20.62
-46.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,384
$4.14 KYD 3.40
-58.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,525
$5.37 KYD 4.40
-55.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
George Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,827
$2.34 KYD 1.92
-48.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.5K
$79.7 KYD 65.4
-4.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,179
$19.10 KYD 15.66
-93.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,774
$3.86 KYD 3.16
-44.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$45.76 KYD 37.52
-81.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,114
$1.65 KYD 1.35
-21.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$42.3K KYD 34.7K
-33.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.3M
$43.1K KYD 35.3K
-17.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
George Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.6K
$459 KYD 377
-62.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$118 KYD 96.4
-88.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.1K
$112 KYD 91.9
-74.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
George Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.5K
$213 KYD 174
-78.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
$35.02 KYD 28.71
-51.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$18.78 KYD 15.40
-66.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
George Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$1,840 KYD 1,509
-58.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
$26.2K KYD 21.5K
-65.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
George Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.0K
$85.9 KYD 70.4
0.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.1K
$74.8 KYD 61.3
-23.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.9K
$138 KYD 113
-1.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.4K
$147 KYD 121
-33.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
George Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
$2,943 KYD 2,413
-64.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$2,491 KYD 2,042
-75.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$5,699 KYD 4,674
-66.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
$4,661 KYD 3,822
-78.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
$8,627 KYD 7,074
-52.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
$2,246 KYD 1,842
-25.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
George Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$7,354 KYD 6,030
-91.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
8
36.75%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for George Town: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
George Town
$2.5K 305% $1.9K
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
George Town
$721 145% $426
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
George Town
$689 222% $475
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
George Town
$201 18% $31
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
George Town
$457 171% $288
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
George Town
$127 36.6% $34
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
George Town
$250 333% $193

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,055 in Medellin and $2,943 in George Town. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

George Town pays 1027% 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: $46.00 in Medellin vs $115 in George Town for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $721 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇰🇾 George Town
🕒 Local time
17:52 5:52 PM
17:52 5:52 PM
Same time as Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
28,089 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

KYD, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Cayman Islands Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.82 KYD (1 KYD = 1.22 USD). 1 EUR = 0.922 KYD (1 KYD = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin George Town 1,580 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • George Town

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 George Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in George Town?
Medellin and George Town differ by about 206% in total monthly costs ($1,614 vs $4,936 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 1027% lower in George Town. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in George Town?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,055 in Medellin versus $2,943 in George Town. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or George Town?
All in, you'll spend $1,614 per month in Medellin versus $4,936 in George Town – a 206% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in George Town?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 4% less than in George Town. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,614 in Medellin versus $4,936 in George Town, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in George Town. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and George Town?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or George Town safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and George Town are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or George Town?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 206% less than in George Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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