🙂A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,156 in Oistins, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,719 in Oistins, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,281 in Oistins, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 11% cheaper than Oistins, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Oistins are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Oistins14% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$19.68BBD 39.36
-69.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$5.84BBD 11.67
-70.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$1.28BBD 2.57
-14.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$2.94BBD 5.87
-63.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
-
-
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$1.74BBD 3.48
-54.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$1.94BBD 3.88
-51.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$46.98BBD 94.0
-48.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$50.9BBD 102
-49.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$51.0BBD 102
13.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$752BBD 1,504
-51.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$1,497BBD 2,993
-52.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Oistins: April 25, 2026
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 Oistins: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oistins cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Oistins is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,735 in Oistins. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Oistins?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $1,156 in Oistins. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Oistins?
Interestingly, groceries are about 547% cheaper in Oistins – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Oistins?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Oistins at $1,156. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oistins it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Oistins more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Oistins makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.