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 $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $904 in Ocho Rios, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,927 in Ocho Rios, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,950 in Ocho Rios, rent included.

Medellin costs about 14% more than Ocho Rios, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Ocho Rios are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Ocho Rios 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$7.61 JMD 1,202

-19.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$62.1 JMD 9,805

-47.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$6.24 JMD 984

17.63%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$2.79 JMD 440

-38.35%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$1.37 JMD 217

-23.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.74 JMD 117

4.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$2.22 JMD 350

-23.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$3.07 JMD 485

3.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$4.08 JMD 644

-74.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$2.80 JMD 441

-53.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.56 JMD 245

-10.26%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$3.53 JMD 557

-38.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$6.64 JMD 1,047

-33.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$6.47 JMD 1,021

-9.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$7.54 JMD 1,190

14.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$6.08 JMD 959

-62.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$3.14 JMD 496

-64.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$4.34 JMD 685

-64.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$2.35 JMD 370

-42.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$2.04 JMD 322

-44.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.93 JMD 304

-41.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$2.10 JMD 331

-59.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.12 JMD 177

-18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$8.97 JMD 1,416

-73.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$9.70 JMD 1,530

27.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$2.42 JMD 382

-50.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$2.92 JMD 461

-14.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$1.60 JMD 252

-47.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$0.66 JMD 104

115.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$0.93 JMD 147

106.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$6.23 JMD 982

22.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.24 JMD 196

-20.16%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$42.5K JMD 6.7M

-57.60%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$33.9K JMD 5.3M

-21.37%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$107 JMD 16.8K

-24.24%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$21.93 JMD 3,460

-54.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$39.44 JMD 6,223

-38.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$15.78 JMD 2,490

58.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$5.71 JMD 901

235.38%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$11.31 JMD 1,784

-64.81%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$228 JMD 35.9K

33.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$2,464 JMD 388.9K

145.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$15.78 JMD 2,490

268.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$12.51 JMD 1,974

157.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$49.26 JMD 7,773

104.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$62.4 JMD 9,843

72.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$372 JMD 58.7K

28.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$187 JMD 29.6K

100.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$1,194 JMD 188.4K

-29.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$1,184 JMD 186.7K

-38.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ocho Rios: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $372 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: $193 vs $311 – 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 14%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,355 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 61% 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 $904, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.