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: $1,641 in Medellin versus $334 in Grand Turk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $515 in Grand Turk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $696 in Grand Turk.

Living in Medellin is roughly 392% more expensive than in Grand Turk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 19% above, Grand Turk is 76% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 COP 24.8K

$20.17 $20.17

-60.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.29 COP 148.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 COP 29.0K

Cappuccino

$2.94 COP 9,040

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

$1.86 COP 5,735

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 COP 4,479

$4.07 $4.07

-64.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 COP 9,882

$11.90 $11.90

-73.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 COP 17.6K

$14.95 $14.95

-61.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,428

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 COP 7,389

$3.85 $3.85

-37.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,228

Eggs

$2.89 COP 8,896

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.06 COP 30.9K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 COP 30.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.20 COP 43.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 COP 12.3K

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 COP 4,878

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 COP 6,624

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,078

$6.43 $6.43

-64.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 COP 6,169

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,646

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 COP 3,701

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 COP 3,946

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 COP 11.8K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 COP 5,256

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 COP 8,440

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 COP 3,834

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 239.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,016

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 COP 6,680

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.29 COP 25.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,172

$1.94 $1.94

-29.90%

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

$27.5K COP 84.5M

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

$36.5K COP 112.4M

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

$169 COP 519.2K

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

$13.57 COP 41.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.32 COP 87.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 140.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.5K

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

$803 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,190 COP 28.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.4 COP 268.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.4 COP 182.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 COP 427.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 314.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$655 COP 2.0M

$7,793 $7,793

-91.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Grand Turk: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Grand Turk pays 1090% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 392% in total monthly costs ($1,641 vs $334 including rent). Grand Turk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 1090% lower in Grand Turk. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 325% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,641 per month in Medellin versus $334 in Grand Turk – a 392% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $334 in Grand Turk versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Grand Turk but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Grand Turk 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 Grand Turk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 392% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.