Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jolly Harbour Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jolly Harbour

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,345 in Jolly Harbour, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,982 in Jolly Harbour, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,620 in Jolly Harbour, rent included.

Medellin is about 25% cheaper than Jolly Harbour, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Jolly Harbour is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$9.47 EC$25.58

-36.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$73.3 EC$198

-55.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$7.42 EC$20.04

-4.45%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$5.69 EC$15.38

-69.95%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$2.18 EC$5.88

-49.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$1.14 EC$3.07

-31.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$5.62 EC$15.16

-70.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$4.56 EC$12.30

-32.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$3.00 EC$8.11

-58.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$4.73 EC$12.76

-70.82%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$8.09 EC$21.85

-72.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$5.69 EC$15.36

-22.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$7.32 EC$19.78

-23.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$16.60 EC$44.83

-46.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$5.64 EC$15.22

-58.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.80 EC$4.85

-41.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$3.16 EC$8.52

-52.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$3.57 EC$9.64

-61.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$6.67 EC$18.01

-82.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$2.50 EC$6.76

-53.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$3.85 EC$10.40

-76.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$4.46 EC$12.05

-81.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$12.76 EC$34.46

-16.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.33 EC$3.60

-9.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$3.11 EC$8.40

-20.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$1.89 EC$5.10

-54.50%

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

$5.43 EC$14.65

-63.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$0.69 EC$1.85

37.68%

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

$518 EC$1,398

-84.11%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$67.2 EC$181

-63.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$73.9 EC$199

-64.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$54.6 EC$147

-65.18%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$16.39 EC$44.25

-76.02%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

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

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

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

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

123.83%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jolly Harbour: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $73.0 in Jolly Harbour. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $387 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Jolly Harbour: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jolly Harbour costs about 33% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $2,017 in Jolly Harbour. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $1,345 in Jolly Harbour. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 105% more in Jolly Harbour, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Jolly Harbour at $1,345. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jolly Harbour it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,013 versus $1,345 in Jolly Harbour. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jolly Harbour makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.