Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Goa Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Goa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,014 in Medellin versus $593 in Goa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,596 in Medellin versus $908 in Goa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,178 in Medellin versus $1,224 in Goa.

Living in Medellin is roughly 71% more expensive than Goa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 25% lower, Goa 56% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Goa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COP 22.2K
$3.41 ₹317
80.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COP 119.3K
$15.40 ₹1,429
114.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COP 26.4K
$5.89 ₹547
24.28%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COP 5,987
$1.28 ₹119
29.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,987
$0.39 ₹35.94
182.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,822
$0.21 ₹19.43
271.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 6,188
$1.26 ₹117
35.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.5K
$3.11 ₹289
1.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Goa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COP 4,012
$0.75 ₹69.2
48.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,719
$0.61 ₹56.3
114.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,980
$1.14 ₹105
21.05%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 8,009
$0.92 ₹85.8
141.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.7K
$6.60 ₹613
-34.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.9K
$3.08 ₹286
88.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COP 32.4K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 8,164
$2.13 ₹198
6.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,023
$0.99 ₹91.9
12.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COP 5,284
$1.72 ₹160
-15.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,929
$0.52 ₹48.62
163.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,009
$0.39 ₹36.18
184.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,199
$0.55 ₹51.1
110.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,211
$0.57 ₹52.7
56.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,124
$0.44 ₹40.52
97.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,495
$3.58 ₹332
-34.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COP 39.2K
$6.82 ₹633
59.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,330
$0.99 ₹92.3
21.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,946
$1.81 ₹168
37.02%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$4.62 ₹429
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Goa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,842
$0.24 ₹22.34
229.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COP 147.2K
$17.58 ₹1,631
131.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 5,137
$1.18 ₹110
20.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,900
$0.34 ₹31.18
461.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COP 27.6K
$2.35 ₹218
225.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,490
$1.20 ₹112
-19.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 65.3M
$11.2K ₹1.0M
61.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COP 95.0M
$31.9K ₹3.0M
-17.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Goa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 293.5K
$24.31 ₹2,255
234.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COP 34.8K
$3.20 ₹297
200.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COP 88.0K
$10.33 ₹959
135.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Goa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COP 93.9K
$19.57 ₹1,816
32.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COP 68.3K
$4.18 ₹388
352.63%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COP 14.0K
$3.41 ₹317
14.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Goa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COP 1.1M
$125 ₹11.6K
142.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COP 21.3M
$1,934 ₹179.4K
205.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Goa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 211.8K
$32.67 ₹3,032
79.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COP 117.2K
$29.01 ₹2,692
11.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 367.3K
$51.4 ₹4,771
97.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 390.4K
$24.24 ₹2,249
346.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Goa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COP 1.7M
$275 ₹25.5K
72.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$255 ₹23.6K
45.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COP 3.1M
$462 ₹42.9K
83.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$450 ₹41.7K
59.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COP 10.4M
$1,166 ₹108.2K
146.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COP 5.0M
$693 ₹64.3K
98.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Goa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COP 2.0M
$343 ₹31.9K
57.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
8.47
58.56%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

Last update for Goa: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $474 in Medellin and $275 in Goa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 58% 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 in Medellin vs $15 in Goa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $115 per month, with Goa 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 Goa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and Goa?
Medellin and Goa differ by about 71% in total monthly costs ($1,014 vs $593 including rent). Goa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Goa?
Medellin pays 58% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and Goa?
Rent for a central apartment: $474 in Medellin versus $275 in Goa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 66% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Goa – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $593 in Goa versus $1,014 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Goa but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Goa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Goa?
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.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Goa?
Expats usually find Goa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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