😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $756 in Goiana.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $1,224 in Goiana.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $1,692 in Goiana.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 36% more expensive than in Goiana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Goiana43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$5.77R$29.40
6.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$36.71R$187
-11.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$6.33R$32.22
15.96%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$1.77R$9.01
-2.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$1.17R$5.95
-10.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.67R$3.40
14.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$1.59R$8.10
6.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$2.14R$10.88
48.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.11R$5.64
-5.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$1.26R$6.39
3.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.05R$5.34
33.33%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$1.82R$9.28
18.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$6.58R$33.49
-33.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$3.74R$19.06
57.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$6.34R$32.28
36.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$2.13R$10.84
7.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$0.93R$4.72
19.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$0.87R$4.41
75.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$1.12R$5.69
20.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.98R$4.99
15.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$1.04R$5.30
8.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.51R$2.62
66.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.56R$2.85
62.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$1.61R$8.18
45.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$7.81R$39.78
58.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.29R$6.58
-6.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$2.47R$12.60
0.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$0.94R$4.79
-10.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$39.08R$199
3.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$0.94R$4.79
51.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.64R$3.25
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$10.68R$54.4
-28.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$0.97R$4.96
2.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$21.5KR$109.5K
-16.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$30.5KR$155.5K
-12.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$42.97R$219
88.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$12.62R$64.3
-21.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$18.87R$96.1
28.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$22.22R$113
12.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$21.44R$109
-10.68%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$6.78R$34.51
-41.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$118R$599
159.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$4,383R$22.3K
38.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$60.6R$309
-4.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$42.19R$215
-23.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$56.2R$286
79.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$71.6R$364
50.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$312R$1,587
52.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$218R$1,112
72.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$580R$2,952
45.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$429R$2,184
70.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$1,634R$8,317
96.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$1,128R$5,743
21.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Goiana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$585R$2,980
5.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
12
11.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Goiana: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $312 in Goiana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 5% 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 $37.00 in Goiana. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $159, with Goiana cheaper for home cooking.
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 36% in total monthly costs ($1,031 vs $756 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 5% 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: $477 in Medellin versus $312 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 $33.00 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 $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $756 in Goiana – a 36% 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 $756 in Goiana versus $1,031 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 36% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.