Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ocho Rios Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ocho Rios

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $928 in Ocho Rios, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,932 in Ocho Rios, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,936 in Ocho Rios, rent included.

Medellin costs about 9% more than Ocho Rios, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Ocho Rios are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Ocho Rios 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$7.32 JMD 1,151

-18.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$62.2 JMD 9,776

-47.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$6.30 JMD 991

12.54%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$2.79 JMD 438

-38.71%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$1.38 JMD 217

-20.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$0.76 JMD 119

2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$2.26 JMD 355

-25.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$3.17 JMD 499

-3.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$3.95 JMD 621

-72.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$2.72 JMD 427

-53.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$1.56 JMD 245

-11.54%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$3.47 JMD 546

-36.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$6.48 JMD 1,018

-32.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$6.34 JMD 998

-11.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$7.47 JMD 1,175

19.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$5.90 JMD 927

-60.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$3.16 JMD 497

-66.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$4.11 JMD 646

-63.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$2.26 JMD 355

-38.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$2.04 JMD 322

-43.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$2.03 JMD 319

-42.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$2.08 JMD 328

-57.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$1.08 JMD 170

-22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$8.97 JMD 1,410

-74.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$9.63 JMD 1,514

10.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$2.45 JMD 386

-51.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$3.02 JMD 475

-18.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

$1.54 JMD 243

-44.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$0.65 JMD 102

126.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$0.96 JMD 151

104.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$6.38 JMD 1,003

21.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$1.28 JMD 202

-25.78%

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$42.9K JMD 6.7M

-57.75%

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$33.9K JMD 5.3M

-21.83%

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$103 JMD 16.2K

-20.41%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$22.01 JMD 3,460

-56.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$38.06 JMD 5,985

-36.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$15.73 JMD 2,473

64.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

$5.80 JMD 912

227.59%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$11.46 JMD 1,802

-65.71%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$224 JMD 35.2K

38.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$2,461 JMD 387.0K

142.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$15.92 JMD 2,504

268.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$12.36 JMD 1,943

161.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$50.8 JMD 7,983

102.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$63.2 JMD 9,937

71.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$382 JMD 60.0K

24.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$185 JMD 29.0K

105.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$1,185 JMD 186.4K

-29.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$1,217 JMD 191.4K

-40.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

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

168.60%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ocho Rios: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $382 in Ocho Rios. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $62.0 in Ocho Rios. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $306 – 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 Ocho Rios: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,391 in Ocho Rios. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ocho Rios, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $62.0 in Ocho Rios. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 62% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ocho Rios, where all-in costs run around $928, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Ocho Rios it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Ocho Rios. 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.