Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Grand Turk Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Grand Turk

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,423 in Grand Turk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,962 in Grand Turk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $2,501 in Grand Turk.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 29% less than in Grand Turk, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Grand Turk is 6% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$19.86 $19.86

-69.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$15.20 $15.20

-53.36%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$1.97 $1.97

-44.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$2.45 $2.45

-68.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$12.07 $12.07

-86.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$14.88 $14.88

-79.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$5.96 $5.96

-81.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$3.85 $3.85

-67.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$6.56 $6.56

-78.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$4.62 $4.62

-80.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.71 $1.71

-50.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.97 $1.97

-51.78%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$203 $203

-59.43%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$86.4 $86.4

-71.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$3,015 $3,015

97.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$749 $749

-36.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$643 $643

-41.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$1,516 $1,516

-44.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$1,216 $1,216

-40.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$6,725 $6,725

-92.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Grand Turk: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $749 in Grand Turk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Grand Turk pays 1214% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Grand Turk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin and Grand Turk differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($1,013 vs $1,423 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Grand Turk earns 1214% less. 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: $476 in Medellin versus $749 in Grand Turk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Grand Turk pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $1,423 in Grand Turk – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,423 in Grand Turk, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Grand Turk. 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 Grand Turk 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 40% less than in Grand Turk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.