Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Oranjestad Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Oranjestad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,985 in Oranjestad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $3,132 in Oranjestad, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $4,279 in Oranjestad, rent included.

Medellin is about 50% cheaper than Oranjestad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Oranjestad is 49% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$18.90 AWG 33.83

-68.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$80.3 AWG 144

-58.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$10.45 AWG 18.70

-28.90%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$3.74 AWG 6.70

-55.88%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.41 AWG 2.52

-21.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$1.61 AWG 2.89

-51.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$2.94 AWG 5.27

-41.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$3.95 AWG 7.07

-19.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.90 AWG 3.40

-42.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$3.02 AWG 5.40

-58.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$2.89 AWG 5.17

-52.25%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$5.31 AWG 9.50

-58.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$12.56 AWG 22.48

-64.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$9.06 AWG 16.22

-36.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$12.32 AWG 22.05

-27.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$4.61 AWG 8.24

-49.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$2.30 AWG 4.12

-53.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$4.94 AWG 8.84

-69.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$3.54 AWG 6.34

-61.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$2.23 AWG 4.00

-49.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.95 AWG 3.48

-40.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$2.67 AWG 4.78

-66.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.58 AWG 2.83

-43.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$9.95 AWG 17.80

-77.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$10.25 AWG 18.34

18.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$3.91 AWG 6.99

-69.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$4.44 AWG 7.94

-44.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$2.21 AWG 3.95

-61.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$29.60 AWG 53.0

40.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$17.15 AWG 30.70

-91.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$3.79 AWG 6.78

-48.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$24.63 AWG 44.07

-67.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.53 AWG 2.73

-35.29%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$26.4K AWG 47.3K

-33.36%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$35.5K AWG 63.6K

-24.59%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$250 AWG 447

-66.78%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$48.78 AWG 87.3

-80.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$105 AWG 189

-77.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$105 AWG 189

-76.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$26.32 AWG 47.09

-27.43%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$11.85 AWG 21.21

-66.67%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 994.2K

$246 AWG 441

28.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$8,679 AWG 15.5K

-31.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$60.0 AWG 107

-0.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$50.1 AWG 89.6

-36.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$108 AWG 194

-6.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$102 AWG 183

4.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$669 AWG 1,198

-29.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$577 AWG 1,033

-35.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,451 AWG 2,596

-41.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$1,361 AWG 2,436

-47.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$2,204 AWG 3,944

48.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,736 AWG 3,107

-17.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$1,737 AWG 3,108

-64.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

6.25

114.88%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Oranjestad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $669 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 178% 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 $80.0 in Oranjestad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $365 – making Medellin 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 Oranjestad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Oranjestad is pricier by about 98%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $2,978 in Oranjestad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $80.0 in Oranjestad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $1,985 in Oranjestad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Oranjestad at $1,985. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oranjestad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

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.