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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,659 in Paradise, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $2,119 in Paradise, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,580 in Paradise, rent included.

Medellin is about 38% cheaper than Paradise, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$9.66 GYD 2,009

-36.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$63.6 GYD 13.2K

-48.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$8.50 GYD 1,767

-13.65%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$4.49 GYD 933

-61.69%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$1.22 GYD 254

-13.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.64 GYD 133

20.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$2.24 GYD 466

-24.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$2.42 GYD 504

30.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$3.75 GYD 779

-72.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$1.79 GYD 371

-27.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.80 GYD 374

-22.22%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$3.56 GYD 741

-39.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$9.84 GYD 2,046

-55.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$5.92 GYD 1,231

-0.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$9.53 GYD 1,981

-9.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$4.01 GYD 834

-43.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$2.28 GYD 474

-51.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$2.28 GYD 474

-32.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$2.49 GYD 517

-45.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.45 GYD 302

-22.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$2.01 GYD 418

-43.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.33 GYD 277

-36.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.68 GYD 349

-45.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$2.22 GYD 461

5.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$10.81 GYD 2,247

14.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.64 GYD 341

-26.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$2.41 GYD 501

3.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.57 GYD 118

47.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$30.13 GYD 6,263

34.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$2.35 GYD 488

-39.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$3.29 GYD 684

-41.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$9.65 GYD 2,006

-20.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.08 GYD 225

-8.33%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$16.1K GYD 3.3M

11.96%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$18.0K GYD 3.7M

47.78%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$75.4 GYD 15.7K

7.19%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$27.40 GYD 5,697

-63.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$67.8 GYD 14.1K

-64.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$49.62 GYD 10.3K

-49.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$6.36 GYD 1,323

-37.42%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$932 GYD 193.8K

-67.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$20.7K GYD 4.3M

-70.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$32.01 GYD 6,655

81.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$47.35 GYD 9,843

-32.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$61.4 GYD 12.8K

64.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$63.2 GYD 13.1K

70.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$296 GYD 61.6K

60.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$790 GYD 164.2K

-52.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$1,196 GYD 248.7K

-29.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$655 GYD 136.2K

11.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$3,425 GYD 712.0K

-6.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$456 GYD 94.8K

201.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$721 GYD 149.8K

-14.41%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Paradise: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $296 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 17% 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 $64.0 in Paradise. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 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 61%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $2,488 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 $64.0 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $1,659 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 $1,031, than in Paradise at $1,659. 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.