Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and George Town Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and George Town

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $4,692 in George Town.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $6,952 in George Town.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $9,211 in George Town.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 79% less than in George Town, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% below, George Town is 253% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$30.56 KYD 25.06

-80.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$145 KYD 119

-77.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

$15.76 KYD 12.93

-52.86%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$6.69 KYD 5.49

-75.34%

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

$1.10 COP 3,514

$3.46 KYD 2.84

-68.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

$2.63 KYD 2.16

-70.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$8.81 KYD 7.23

-80.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

$8.60 KYD 7.05

-63.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$2.95 KYD 2.42

-62.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$5.34 KYD 4.38

-76.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$5.71 KYD 4.68

-75.83%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$10.02 KYD 8.21

-78.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$11.90 KYD 9.76

-62.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$16.16 KYD 13.25

-64.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$16.52 KYD 13.54

-45.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$10.61 KYD 8.70

-78.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$4.50 KYD 3.69

-76.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$7.86 KYD 6.45

-80.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$7.72 KYD 6.33

-82.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$5.47 KYD 4.48

-79.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$5.61 KYD 4.60

-79.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

$6.18 KYD 5.06

-85.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$2.92 KYD 2.40

-69.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

$14.21 KYD 11.65

-84.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

$25.13 KYD 20.61

-51.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

$3.92 KYD 3.22

-69.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

$5.41 KYD 4.43

-54.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

$2.46 KYD 2.02

-65.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

$29.60 KYD 24.28

40.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$18.00 KYD 14.76

-92.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

$5.01 KYD 4.11

-61.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

$60.9 KYD 49.93

-87.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$1.68 KYD 1.38

-41.07%

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

$39.1K KYD 32.1K

-55.01%

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

$34.7K KYD 28.5K

-22.87%

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

$83.0 COP 264.9K

$395 KYD 324

-78.98%

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

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$99.2 KYD 81.4

-90.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$109 KYD 89.2

-78.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

$105 KYD 86.1

-75.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

$40.49 KYD 33.20

-52.83%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$18.35 KYD 15.05

-78.47%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

$1,747 KYD 1,432

-81.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

$25.1K KYD 20.5K

-76.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

$91.0 KYD 74.6

-34.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

$70.0 KYD 57.4

-54.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

$149 KYD 122

-31.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

$149 KYD 122

-27.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$2,843 KYD 2,331

-83.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$2,538 KYD 2,081

-85.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$5,627 KYD 4,614

-84.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$4,528 KYD 3,713

-84.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

$8,882 KYD 7,283

-63.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

$2,277 KYD 1,868

-36.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$7,142 KYD 5,856

-91.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

8.25

62.79%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for George Town: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $2,843 in George Town. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

George Town pays 1044% 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 $145 in George Town for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $630 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 George Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin and George Town differ by about 368% in total monthly costs ($1,003 vs $4,692 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 1044% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $2,843 in George Town. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $4,692 in George Town – a 368% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 41% less than in George Town. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,003 in Medellin versus $4,692 in George Town, a $1,500 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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 368% less than in George Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.