😐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 – Medellin25% lower, Old Harbour47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Old Harbour
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$6.28JMD 989
-5.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$30.89JMD 4,864
6.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$5.13JMD 807
44.83%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$4.33JMD 681
-61.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$0.90JMD 142
22.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$0.61JMD 96.4
27.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$2.43JMD 383
-29.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$3.17JMD 499
0.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Old Harbour
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$4.33JMD 681
-74.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$3.53JMD 555
-64.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$1.62JMD 256
-14.81%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$3.48JMD 549
-37.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$3.48JMD 548
29.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$6.51JMD 1,026
-11.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$7.53JMD 1,186
19.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$5.85JMD 921
-60.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$3.05JMD 480
-65.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$4.30JMD 677
-64.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$2.12JMD 333
-35.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$2.02JMD 318
-44.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$1.94JMD 306
-39.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$2.99JMD 472
-69.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$1.45JMD 228
-37.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$8.85JMD 1,394
-74.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$11.56JMD 1,820
4.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$2.76JMD 435
-56.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$3.10JMD 489
-20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Old Harbour
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$1.12JMD 176
26.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$3.28JMD 516
-40.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$6.20JMD 977
27.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$1.09JMD 171
-9.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$42.9KJMD 6.7M
-58.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$33.1KJMD 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)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$49.51JMD 7,797
67.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$21.97JMD 3,460
-55.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$44.48JMD 7,006
-47.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Old Harbour
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$13.23JMD 2,083
-70.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Old Harbour
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$225JMD 35.4K
40.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$2,493JMD 392.7K
139.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Old Harbour
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$26.25JMD 4,135
128.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$25.31JMD 3,986
25.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$70.6JMD 11.1K
43.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$75.3JMD 11.9K
42.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Old Harbour
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Old Harbour
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 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.