Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Paradise Island Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Paradise Island

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,706 in Paradise Island, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $2,952 in Paradise Island, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $4,198 in Paradise Island, rent included.

Medellin is about 40% cheaper than Paradise Island, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Paradise Island is 27% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$40.69 BSD 40.69

-85.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$151 BSD 151

-77.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$9.96 BSD 9.96

-27.41%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$4.86 BSD 4.86

-66.46%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$2.36 BSD 2.36

-53.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$1.79 BSD 1.79

-59.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$4.06 BSD 4.06

-57.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$5.89 BSD 5.89

-45.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$4.66 BSD 4.66

-77.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$2.91 BSD 2.91

-55.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$6.15 BSD 6.15

-78.54%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$7.84 BSD 7.84

-71.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$8.57 BSD 8.57

-49.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$11.91 BSD 11.91

-50.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$20.96 BSD 20.96

-58.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$5.19 BSD 5.19

-56.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$3.49 BSD 3.49

-69.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$4.76 BSD 4.76

-68.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$7.20 BSD 7.20

-80.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$5.14 BSD 5.14

-77.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$4.49 BSD 4.49

-73.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$3.60 BSD 3.60

-75.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$3.00 BSD 3.00

-70.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$13.94 BSD 13.94

-83.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$34.57 BSD 34.57

-68.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$3.86 BSD 3.86

-70.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$4.27 BSD 4.27

-44.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$6.02 BSD 6.02

-76.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$101 BSD 101

-92.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.40 BSD 1.40

-27.86%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$37.6K BSD 37.6K

-53.23%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$42.8K BSD 42.8K

-38.06%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$199 BSD 199

-57.88%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$70.8 BSD 70.8

-86.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$101 BSD 101

-76.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$129 BSD 129

-80.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$14.75 BSD 14.75

-72.20%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$730 BSD 730

-57.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$15.0K BSD 15.0K

-60.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$64.6 BSD 64.6

-10.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$77.3 BSD 77.3

-57.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$114 BSD 114

-12.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$129 BSD 129

-15.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$5,475 BSD 5,475

-84.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$2,474 BSD 2,474

-78.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

7.05

90.50%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Paradise Island: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 357% higher in Paradise Island, 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 $151 in Paradise Island. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $554 – 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 Paradise Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Paradise Island is pricier by about 68%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $2,560 in Paradise Island. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $151 in Paradise Island. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 192% more in Paradise Island, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Paradise Island at $1,706. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Paradise Island 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, Paradise Island makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.