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 $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,757 in Paradise Island, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $2,914 in Paradise Island, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $4,070 in Paradise Island, rent included.

Medellin is about 41% cheaper than Paradise Island, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Paradise Island is 31% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$40.45 BSD 40.45

-85.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$150 BSD 150

-78.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$9.97 BSD 9.97

-27.78%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$5.05 BSD 5.05

-66.34%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$2.23 BSD 2.23

-50.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$1.70 BSD 1.70

-57.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$4.05 BSD 4.05

-58.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$6.03 BSD 6.03

-48.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$4.84 BSD 4.84

-78.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$3.04 BSD 3.04

-58.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$6.28 BSD 6.28

-77.87%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$7.83 BSD 7.83

-71.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$8.46 BSD 8.46

-48.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$12.22 BSD 12.22

-52.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$20.93 BSD 20.93

-57.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$5.23 BSD 5.23

-57.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$3.40 BSD 3.40

-68.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$4.82 BSD 4.82

-68.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$7.02 BSD 7.02

-80.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$4.96 BSD 4.96

-77.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$4.42 BSD 4.42

-74.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$3.48 BSD 3.48

-75.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$3.08 BSD 3.08

-70.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$13.73 BSD 13.73

-83.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$34.33 BSD 34.33

-67.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$3.86 BSD 3.86

-69.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$4.29 BSD 4.29

-44.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$6.18 BSD 6.18

-76.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$100 BSD 100

-91.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.41 BSD 1.41

-33.33%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$36.8K BSD 36.8K

-51.33%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$43.0K BSD 43.0K

-37.65%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$197 BSD 197

-57.37%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$71.7 BSD 71.7

-86.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$98.5 BSD 98.5

-75.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$129 BSD 129

-79.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$14.77 BSD 14.77

-73.46%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$712 BSD 712

-56.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$15.3K BSD 15.3K

-61.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$64.4 BSD 64.4

-10.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$76.8 BSD 76.8

-58.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$117 BSD 117

-14.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$129 BSD 129

-17.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$5,536 BSD 5,536

-85.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$2,486 BSD 2,486

-78.06%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Paradise Island: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 356% 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 $150 in Paradise Island. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $557 – 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 70%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $2,636 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 $150 in Paradise Island. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 193% 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 $1,034, than in Paradise Island at $1,757. 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.