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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,652 in Paradise, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $2,131 in Paradise, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,610 in Paradise, rent included.

Medellin is about 39% cheaper than Paradise, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Paradise is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$9.54 GYD 1,983

-37.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$65.6 GYD 13.6K

-49.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$8.44 GYD 1,754

-16.00%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$4.25 GYD 884

-59.76%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$1.17 GYD 244

-5.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.70 GYD 146

11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$2.22 GYD 462

-24.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$2.45 GYD 509

25.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$3.68 GYD 764

-70.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$1.87 GYD 388

-32.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.79 GYD 373

-22.91%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$3.57 GYD 743

-38.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$10.20 GYD 2,121

-56.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$5.94 GYD 1,236

-5.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$9.27 GYD 1,927

-4.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$3.87 GYD 804

-39.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$2.22 GYD 462

-52.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$2.33 GYD 485

-35.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$2.45 GYD 508

-43.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.44 GYD 299

-20.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$2.01 GYD 418

-42.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$1.31 GYD 272

-32.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.64 GYD 340

-48.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$2.25 GYD 468

1.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$11.02 GYD 2,291

-3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.66 GYD 346

-27.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$2.44 GYD 506

1.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.59 GYD 123

45.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$29.51 GYD 6,135

40.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$2.43 GYD 505

-39.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$3.40 GYD 706

-42.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$9.66 GYD 2,008

-19.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.08 GYD 224

-12.04%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$16.0K GYD 3.3M

13.10%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$18.0K GYD 3.7M

47.37%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$76.2 GYD 15.8K

7.97%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$27.83 GYD 5,787

-65.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$68.7 GYD 14.3K

-64.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$50.2 GYD 10.4K

-48.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$6.36 GYD 1,323

-38.21%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$919 GYD 191.0K

-66.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$20.6K GYD 4.3M

-71.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$32.45 GYD 6,746

80.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$48.01 GYD 9,982

-32.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$63.3 GYD 13.2K

62.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$63.2 GYD 13.1K

71.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$300 GYD 62.3K

58.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$799 GYD 166.2K

-52.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$1,201 GYD 249.7K

-30.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$658 GYD 136.7K

10.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$3,380 GYD 702.7K

-17.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$458 GYD 95.2K

164.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$733 GYD 152.4K

-30.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

7.11

88.89%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Paradise: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $300 in Paradise. 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 43% higher in Paradise, 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 $66.0 in Paradise. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $288 – 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: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Paradise is pricier by about 63%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $2,478 in Paradise. 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 $66.0 in Paradise. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $1,652 in Paradise. 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 $1,013, than in Paradise at $1,652. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Paradise 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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Paradise makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.