Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Isa Town Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Isa Town

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $722 in Isa Town, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,737 in Isa Town, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,753 in Isa Town, rent included.

Medellin costs about 39% more than Isa Town, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Medellin and Isa Town are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Isa Town 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$7.88 BHD 2.97

-25.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$27.03 BHD 10.19

21.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$6.75 BHD 2.55

10.07%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$4.69 BHD 1.77

-64.82%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.88 BHD 0.33

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.26 BHD 0.10

200.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$6.66 BHD 2.51

-74.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$2.02 BHD 0.76

-45.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.58 BHD 0.59

-20.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$3.65 BHD 1.38

-62.19%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.64 BHD 0.99

-17.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$13.13 BHD 4.95

-65.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$6.55 BHD 2.47

-11.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$15.99 BHD 6.02

-43.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$2.30 BHD 0.87

0.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$2.23 BHD 0.84

-52.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$2.28 BHD 0.86

-33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$2.05 BHD 0.77

-33.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.94 BHD 0.73

-41.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.50 BHD 0.57

-22.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.91 BHD 0.34

-1.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.79 BHD 0.30

13.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$1.03 BHD 0.39

-17.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$13.05 BHD 4.92

218.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$5.34 BHD 2.01

-73.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.83 BHD 0.31

19.28%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$13.4K BHD 5,054

99.85%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$39.09 BHD 14.73

-39.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$105 BHD 39.46

-75.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$10.57 BHD 3.98

-62.63%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$7,822 BHD 2,948

-23.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$40.00 BHD 15.08

50.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$13.05 BHD 4.92

143.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$78.5 BHD 29.57

29.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$105 BHD 39.57

2.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,314 BHD 495

-35.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$1,069 BHD 403

-32.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$1,059 BHD 399

-41.01%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Isa Town: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 70% higher in Isa Town, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $27.00 in Isa Town. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $247 in Isa Town – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Isa Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,082 in Isa Town. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $722 in Isa Town. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $27.00 in Isa Town. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Isa Town, where all-in costs run around $722, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Isa Town it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Isa Town – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Isa Town. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.