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: $1,017 in Medellin versus $593 in Goa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $890 in Goa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $1,186 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 24% lower, Goa 56% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Goa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95 COP 20.8K
$3.41 ₹324
74.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33 COP 116.3K
$15.57 ₹1,481
114.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 COP 25.2K
$5.77 ₹548
25.30%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 5,687
$1.34 ₹127
21.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COP 3,821
$0.39 ₹36.71
179.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 2,548
$0.21 ₹19.95
247.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 COP 6,065
$1.31 ₹125
32.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 COP 11.3K
$3.18 ₹302
1.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Goa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,662
$0.76 ₹72.4
38.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 COP 4,515
$0.60 ₹56.8
115.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 COP 4,617
$1.09 ₹104
21.10%
Eggs
$2.27 COP 7,927
$0.88 ₹83.3
157.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.35 COP 15.2K
$6.53 ₹621
-33.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 20.5K
$3.25 ₹309
80.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.61 COP 30.0K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,844
$2.15 ₹204
4.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 3,733
$0.92 ₹87.4
16.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 5,322
$1.73 ₹165
-12.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 4,964
$0.56 ₹53.4
153.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,084
$0.42 ₹39.48
178.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,077
$0.52 ₹49.14
125.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,096
$0.60 ₹57.5
48.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 3,146
$0.44 ₹41.89
104.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 COP 7,837
$3.41 ₹324
-34.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 COP 38.5K
$6.64 ₹631
66.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 COP 3,977
$0.99 ₹94.1
15.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 COP 8,301
$1.73 ₹164
37.57%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$4.45 ₹423
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Goa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,916
$0.22 ₹20.91
281.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.95 COP 146.4K
$17.60 ₹1,673
138.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 4,912
$1.13 ₹107
24.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COP 6,634
$0.37 ₹34.78
413.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.75 COP 27.0K
$2.26 ₹215
242.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COP 3,509
$1.20 ₹114
-15.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 61.4M
$11.6K ₹1.1M
52.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COP 92.5M
$32.6K ₹3.1M
-18.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Goa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.7 COP 292.1K
$24.09 ₹2,291
247.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45 COP 33.0K
$3.20 ₹304
195.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11 COP 84.1K
$10.66 ₹1,014
126.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Goa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.31 COP 88.3K
$19.44 ₹1,848
30.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 66.8K
$4.20 ₹400
355.71%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 14.3K
$3.33 ₹317
23.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Goa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COP 1.1M
$126 ₹12.0K
148.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,993 COP 20.9M
$1,912 ₹181.8K
213.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Goa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 COP 202.6K
$33.37 ₹3,173
73.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56 COP 113.6K
$29.33 ₹2,789
11.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.6 COP 347.7K
$51.8 ₹4,928
92.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COP 378.8K
$23.98 ₹2,280
352.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Goa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 COP 1.7M
$277 ₹26.4K
73.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.3M
$255 ₹24.3K
48.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$837 COP 2.9M
$471 ₹44.8K
77.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 COP 2.5M
$444 ₹42.2K
62.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,840 COP 9.9M
$1,164 ₹110.7K
144.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,223 COP 4.3M
$688 ₹65.4K
77.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Goa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$541 COP 1.9M
$348 ₹33.1K
55.38%
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Goa: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $277 in Goa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 55% 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 $16.00 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 ($1,017 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 55% 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: $482 in Medellin versus $277 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 65% 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 $16.00 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 $1,017 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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