🙂A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,989 in Oranjestad, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $3,152 in Oranjestad, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $4,315 in Oranjestad, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 48% cheaper than Oranjestad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Oranjestad is 49% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Oranjestad
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$19.34AWG 34.62
-69.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$81.6AWG 146
-59.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$10.34AWG 18.50
-30.37%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$3.63AWG 6.49
-53.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$1.47AWG 2.63
-25.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$1.59AWG 2.84
-54.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$3.01AWG 5.40
-44.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$4.01AWG 7.18
-22.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Oranjestad
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.87AWG 3.35
-43.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$2.98AWG 5.34
-58.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$2.83AWG 5.06
-50.88%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$5.22AWG 9.35
-56.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$12.70AWG 22.73
-65.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$9.46AWG 16.93
-38.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$12.03AWG 21.53
-26.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$4.75AWG 8.50
-52.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$2.31AWG 4.13
-53.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$5.15AWG 9.22
-70.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$3.47AWG 6.21
-60.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$2.24AWG 4.00
-49.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$1.94AWG 3.47
-42.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$2.58AWG 4.62
-67.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$1.54AWG 2.75
-40.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$10.05AWG 17.98
-76.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$10.22AWG 18.30
8.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$3.87AWG 6.92
-69.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$4.30AWG 7.69
-44.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Oranjestad
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$2.22AWG 3.98
-64.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
$30.45AWG 54.5
35.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$17.12AWG 30.64
-91.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$4.00AWG 7.16
-52.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$24.65AWG 44.13
-67.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$1.47AWG 2.63
-36.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$26.5KAWG 47.5K
-32.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$35.0KAWG 62.6K
-23.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Oranjestad
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$257AWG 460
-67.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$49.05AWG 87.8
-80.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$105AWG 187
-76.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Oranjestad
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$107AWG 192
-75.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
$25.58AWG 45.79
-25.57%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$12.11AWG 21.67
-67.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Oranjestad
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$246AWG 440
24.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$8,715AWG 15.6K
-32.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Oranjestad
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$58.9AWG 105
-1.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$50.0AWG 89.5
-36.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$108AWG 193
-7.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$103AWG 184
4.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Oranjestad
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$682AWG 1,220
-28.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$571AWG 1,021
-35.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$1,473AWG 2,636
-43.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$1,356AWG 2,428
-47.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$2,268AWG 4,059
29.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
$1,727AWG 3,092
-18.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Oranjestad
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$1,692AWG 3,029
-67.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.25
114.88%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Medellin: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Oranjestad: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $682 in Oranjestad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 210% higher in Oranjestad, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $82.0 in Oranjestad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $365 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Medellin vs Oranjestad: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Oranjestad cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Oranjestad is pricier by about 92%, 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 $2,983 in Oranjestad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Oranjestad?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $82.0 in Oranjestad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Oranjestad?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $1,989 in Oranjestad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Oranjestad?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Oranjestad at $1,989. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oranjestad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Oranjestad 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 safer, Medellin or Oranjestad?
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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Oranjestad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Medellin vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado