Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Goiana Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Goiana

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $834 in Goiana.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $1,346 in Goiana.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $1,858 in Goiana.

Living in Medellin is roughly 102% more expensive than in Goiana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Goiana is 39% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.4K
$5.47 R$28.10
46.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 152.0K
$36.57 R$188
30.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 31.4K
$9.82 R$50.5
0.71%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,937
$2.45 R$12.59
27.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 6,058
$1.03 R$5.31
85.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,794
$0.63 R$3.26
139.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,917
$1.55 R$7.96
101.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.3K
$3.04 R$15.64
89.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,587
$1.41 R$7.23
2.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,894
$1.63 R$8.36
52.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,631
$1.61 R$8.30
9.94%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,396
$1.79 R$9.18
65.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 32.0K
$6.92 R$35.58
45.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 32.1K
$4.33 R$22.27
133.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 45.4K
$6.74 R$34.64
112.17%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 13.1K
$1.35 R$6.92
206.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,106
$1.30 R$6.68
23.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,129
$0.73 R$3.75
208.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,150
$1.19 R$6.13
89.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,486
$1.38 R$7.11
47.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,873
$1.10 R$5.66
40.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,715
$0.48 R$2.44
143.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,148
$0.88 R$4.52
48.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.4K
$1.76 R$9.05
121.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 44.5K
$7.84 R$40.32
78.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,534
$1.14 R$5.86
52.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 9,112
$1.53 R$7.88
87.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,858
$1.05 R$5.41
16.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 255.5K
$43.91 R$226
83.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,155
$1.23 R$6.33
6.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,944
$0.76 R$3.92
188.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.7K
$3.51 R$18.04
148.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,334
$1.05 R$5.41
30.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 88.4M
$23.6K R$121.1K
18.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 113.6M
$32.3K R$166.0K
10.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 562.9K
$76.7 R$394
131.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 44.1K
$13.23 R$68.0
4.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 94.4K
$17.05 R$87.7
74.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 142.5K
$22.82 R$117
96.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 54.4K
$25.45 R$131
-32.73%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 21.1K
$8.42 R$43.29
-21.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.6M
$234 R$1,202
247.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 29.2M
$11.6K R$59.5K
-20.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 284.1K
$43.59 R$224
105.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 187.2K
$48.98 R$252
20.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 438.8K
$60.2 R$310
129.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 324.2K
$80.5 R$414
26.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.4M
$384 R$1,977
176.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$214 R$1,098
210.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 6.0M
$598 R$3,075
215.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.3M
$451 R$2,319
127.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.3M
$1,497 R$7,700
179.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.3M
$1,131 R$5,817
48.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.2M
$590 R$3,035
14.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
11.75
-6.89%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Goiana: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $384 in Goiana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 15% 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: $48.00 in Medellin vs $37.00 in Goiana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $173 per month, with Goiana 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 Goiana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Goiana?
Medellin and Goiana differ by about 102% in total monthly costs ($1,681 vs $834 including rent). Goiana is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Goiana?
Average pay runs 15% higher in Medellin, 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 in Goiana?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $384 in Goiana. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Goiana – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Goiana?
All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $834 in Goiana – a 102% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $834 in Goiana versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Goiana but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Goiana the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Goiana?
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 Goiana?
Expats usually find Goiana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 102% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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