Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Red Deer Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Red Deer

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $2,295 in Red Deer, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $3,216 in Red Deer, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $4,137 in Red Deer, rent included.

Medellin is about 25% cheaper than Red Deer, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Red Deer sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Red Deer by 67%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 COP 25.1K

$18.83 CA$26.06

-57.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.26 COP 150.8K

$60.8 CA$84.1

-20.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 COP 30.5K

$11.36 CA$15.72

-14.00%

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,095

$5.30 CA$7.33

-45.09%

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

$1.94 COP 6,074

$2.02 CA$2.80

-3.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 COP 4,754

$2.19 CA$3.03

-30.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,663

$5.31 CA$7.35

-41.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 17.9K

$6.81 CA$9.43

-15.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,262

$1.86 CA$2.58

-26.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,460

$2.69 CA$3.72

-11.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,314

$3.45 CA$4.77

-50.72%

Eggs

$2.87 COP 8,967

$3.44 CA$4.75

-16.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 COP 31.1K

$10.27 CA$14.22

-3.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 COP 33.7K

$16.72 CA$23.13

-35.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 COP 46.0K

$17.48 CA$24.18

-15.73%

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 COP 12.8K

$7.21 CA$9.97

-43.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,911

$1.74 CA$2.41

-9.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,642

$2.39 CA$3.31

-10.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,917

$5.66 CA$7.83

-60.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,396

$5.48 CA$7.59

-62.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 COP 4,700

$2.20 CA$3.04

-31.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,718

$3.21 CA$4.44

-62.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,619

$2.88 CA$3.99

-59.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

$16.14 CA$22.34

-75.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.1K

$14.71 CA$20.35

-1.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,948

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,836

$6.60 CA$9.13

-57.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,650

$2.11 CA$2.92

-44.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 242.9K

$54.2 CA$75.0

43.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,014

$2.76 CA$3.82

-53.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,537

$1.35 CA$1.87

54.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 26.9K

$23.17 CA$32.06

-62.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,056

$1.06 CA$1.47

22.64%

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

$27.7K COP 86.4M

$26.9K CA$37.2K

2.78%

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

$35.5K COP 110.9M

$19.0K CA$26.3K

86.96%

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

$176 COP 550.1K

$183 CA$253

-3.53%

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

$13.37 COP 41.8K

$64.2 CA$88.8

-79.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.89 COP 93.4K

$65.4 CA$90.4

-54.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 139.8K

$35.86 CA$49.62

24.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.3K

$10.87 CA$15.04

56.95%

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.4K

$10.74 CA$14.86

-42.27%

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

$793 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 COP 267.5K

$51.0 CA$70.5

67.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 182.7K

$34.96 CA$48.37

67.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 425.9K

$80.5 CA$111

69.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 322.2K

$110 CA$153

-6.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

$1,079 CA$1,493

-1.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

$941 CA$1,302

-27.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

$1,597 CA$2,210

25.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

$1,371 CA$1,896

-14.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.8M

$2,750 CA$3,805

49.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

$2,811 CA$3,889

-39.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 COP 2.1M

$3,032 CA$4,195

-78.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

5.8

88.62%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Red Deer: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $1,079 in Red Deer. 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 356% higher in Red Deer, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $61.0 in Red Deer. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $435 – 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 Red Deer: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Red Deer is pricier by about 34%, 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 $2,574 per month in Medellin and $3,443 in Red Deer. 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.

Public transport costs about 43% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 43% more in Red Deer, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Red Deer at $2,295. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Red Deer 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, Red Deer makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.