Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Oni Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Oni

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $744 in Oni, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,196 in Oni, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,648 in Oni, rent included.

Medellin costs about 126% more than Oni, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Oni is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Oni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.0K
$11.34 ₾29.47
-29.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 149.4K
$39.07 ₾102
22.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 30.8K
$9.52 ₾24.74
3.89%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,767
$3.55 ₾9.22
-11.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 5,954
$1.04 ₾2.69
83.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,712
$0.64 ₾1.66
135.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,747
$2.68 ₾6.96
16.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 17.9K
$3.33 ₾8.66
72.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Oni
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,509
$2.18 ₾5.66
-33.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,759
$0.75 ₾1.96
232.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,535
$1.67 ₾4.33
5.99%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,235
$2.76 ₾7.16
7.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.4K
$9.26 ₾24.07
8.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.6K
$6.96 ₾18.08
45.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 44.6K
$12.89 ₾33.48
10.94%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 12.9K
$1.66 ₾4.30
149.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,019
$1.81 ₾4.70
-11.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,007
$1.88 ₾4.88
19.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,028
$2.45 ₾6.36
-8.16%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,375
$0.87 ₾2.25
134.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,790
$0.68 ₾1.77
126.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,651
$1.35 ₾3.51
-13.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,077
$0.75 ₾1.95
74.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$3.51 ₾9.11
11.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.7K
$7.70 ₾20.01
81.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,439
$1.65 ₾4.28
5.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 8,956
$2.31 ₾5.99
24.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Oni
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,792
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 251.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,084
$1.16 ₾3.02
12.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,825
$0.78 ₾2.03
180.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.2K
$11.53 ₾29.95
-24.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,260
$1.35 ₾3.50
1.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 86.9M
$24.7K ₾64.1K
12.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 111.6M
$22.0K ₾57.2K
62.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Oni
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 553.2K
$89.8 ₾233
97.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.3K
$12.94 ₾33.61
7.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 92.8K
$20.01 ₾52.0
48.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Oni
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 140.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 53.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.7K
$6.38 ₾16.58
4.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Oni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.5M
$368 ₾957
120.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 28.7M
$10.7K ₾27.7K
-13.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Oni
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 279.3K
$103 ₾267
-12.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 184.0K
$39.20 ₾102
50.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 431.2K
$118 ₾307
16.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 318.7K
$121 ₾315
-15.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Oni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 5.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Oni
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
12.62
-13.31%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Oni: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $39.00 in Oni. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $234 – making Oni 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 Oni: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oni cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 126%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,115 in Oni. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Oni?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $39.00 in Oni. 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 Oni?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Oni?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Oni, where all-in costs run around $744, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Oni it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Oni more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Oni – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Oni?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Oni. 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.

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