Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Oistins Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Oistins

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Medellin 23% lower, Oistins 14% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$19.68 BBD 39.36
-69.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$5.84 BBD 11.67
-70.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$1.28 BBD 2.57
-14.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$2.94 BBD 5.87
-63.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
-
-
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$1.74 BBD 3.48
-54.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$1.94 BBD 3.88
-51.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$46.98 BBD 94.0
-48.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$50.9 BBD 102
-49.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$51.0 BBD 102
13.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$752 BBD 1,504
-51.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$1,497 BBD 2,993
-52.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Oistins
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 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.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities