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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $710 in Old Harbour, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,170 in Old Harbour, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,630 in Old Harbour, rent included.

Medellin costs about 41% more than Old Harbour, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Old Harbour are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Old Harbour 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Old Harbour
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$6.28 JMD 989
-5.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
$30.89 JMD 4,864
6.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$5.13 JMD 807
44.83%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
$4.33 JMD 681
-61.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
$0.90 JMD 142
22.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
$0.61 JMD 96.4
27.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
$2.43 JMD 383
-29.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$3.17 JMD 499
0.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Old Harbour
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$4.33 JMD 681
-74.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$3.53 JMD 555
-64.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$1.62 JMD 256
-14.81%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$3.48 JMD 549
-37.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$3.48 JMD 548
29.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$6.51 JMD 1,026
-11.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$7.53 JMD 1,186
19.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$5.85 JMD 921
-60.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$3.05 JMD 480
-65.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$4.30 JMD 677
-64.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$2.12 JMD 333
-35.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$2.02 JMD 318
-44.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$1.94 JMD 306
-39.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
$2.99 JMD 472
-69.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$1.45 JMD 228
-37.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
$8.85 JMD 1,394
-74.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
$11.56 JMD 1,820
4.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
$2.76 JMD 435
-56.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
$3.10 JMD 489
-20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Old Harbour
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
$1.12 JMD 176
26.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
$3.28 JMD 516
-40.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
$6.20 JMD 977
27.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
$1.09 JMD 171
-9.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
$42.9K JMD 6.7M
-58.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
$33.1K JMD 5.2M
-19.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Old Harbour
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
$49.51 JMD 7,797
67.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
$21.97 JMD 3,460
-55.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$44.48 JMD 7,006
-47.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Old Harbour
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$13.23 JMD 2,083
-70.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Old Harbour
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
$225 JMD 35.4K
40.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$2,493 JMD 392.7K
139.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Old Harbour
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
$26.25 JMD 4,135
128.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
$25.31 JMD 3,986
25.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
$70.6 JMD 11.1K
43.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
$75.3 JMD 11.9K
42.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Old Harbour
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Old Harbour
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
9.15
46.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Old Harbour: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $31.00 in Old Harbour. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $322 in Old Harbour – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Old Harbour: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Old Harbour cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 41%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,065 in Old Harbour. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Old Harbour?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $31.00 in Old Harbour. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Old Harbour?
Interestingly, groceries are about 67% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Old Harbour?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Old Harbour, where all-in costs run around $710, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Old Harbour it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Old Harbour more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Old Harbour – 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 Old Harbour. 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.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities