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 $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,623 in Paradise Island, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $2,796 in Paradise Island, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $3,970 in Paradise Island, rent included.

Medellin is about 38% cheaper than Paradise Island, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Paradise Island is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$39.88 BSD 39.88

-85.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$151 BSD 151

-78.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$9.83 BSD 9.83

-24.42%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$4.96 BSD 4.96

-66.73%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$2.23 BSD 2.23

-50.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$1.79 BSD 1.79

-56.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$3.92 BSD 3.92

-56.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$6.06 BSD 6.06

-47.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$4.73 BSD 4.73

-76.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$2.97 BSD 2.97

-57.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$6.40 BSD 6.40

-78.44%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$7.49 BSD 7.49

-70.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$8.49 BSD 8.49

-47.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$11.98 BSD 11.98

-51.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$20.38 BSD 20.38

-55.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$5.36 BSD 5.36

-56.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$3.49 BSD 3.49

-69.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$4.71 BSD 4.71

-67.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$7.13 BSD 7.13

-80.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$4.97 BSD 4.97

-77.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$4.27 BSD 4.27

-72.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$3.53 BSD 3.53

-74.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$2.98 BSD 2.98

-69.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$13.63 BSD 13.63

-83.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$3.89 BSD 3.89

-69.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$4.38 BSD 4.38

-43.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$5.88 BSD 5.88

-75.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$102 BSD 102

-92.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.43 BSD 1.43

-30.77%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$37.0K BSD 37.0K

-52.40%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$43.6K BSD 43.6K

-38.48%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$199 BSD 199

-58.31%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$71.0 BSD 71.0

-86.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$98.3 BSD 98.3

-76.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$128 BSD 128

-80.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$15.17 BSD 15.17

-73.96%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$709 BSD 709

-55.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$15.3K BSD 15.3K

-60.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$63.6 BSD 63.6

-5.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$75.5 BSD 75.5

-57.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$115 BSD 115

-11.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$126 BSD 126

-14.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$5,591 BSD 5,591

-84.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$2,540 BSD 2,540

-75.42%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Paradise Island: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 307% 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: $193 vs $483 – 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 62%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,434 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 150% 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 $1,003, than in Paradise Island at $1,623. 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.