Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Roatan Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Roatan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,018 per month in Medellin vs $1,212 in Roatan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,609 per month in Medellin vs $1,980 in Roatan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,200 per month in Medellin vs $2,749 in Roatan, rent included.

Medellin is about 16% cheaper than Roatan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Roatan are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Roatan 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.93 COP 19.1K

$7.35 HNL 197

-19.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.12 COP 106.6K

$40.22 HNL 1,076

-17.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.12 COP 22.9K

$8.89 HNL 238

-19.91%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 5,487

$3.69 HNL 98.8

-53.66%

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

$1.05 COP 3,374

$1.24 HNL 33.19

-15.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,324

$0.70 HNL 18.74

2.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,531

$2.22 HNL 59.5

-22.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.2K

$4.12 HNL 110

-23.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,426

$1.30 HNL 34.79

-18.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,215

$3.24 HNL 86.7

-59.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 COP 4,279

$2.14 HNL 57.3

-37.85%

Eggs

$2.28 COP 7,338

$1.98 HNL 53.0

15.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.42 COP 14.2K

$10.82 HNL 289

-59.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.92 COP 19.0K

$6.77 HNL 181

-12.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 27.8K

$17.97 HNL 481

-51.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 7,545

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 COP 3,546

$1.13 HNL 30.11

-2.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 COP 4,724

$1.09 HNL 29.10

34.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,439

$0.58 HNL 15.38

137.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,774

$1.07 HNL 28.56

9.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,765

$1.08 HNL 28.86

8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,905

$1.02 HNL 27.41

-11.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,708

$2.94 HNL 78.8

-71.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 7,490

$2.98 HNL 79.6

-21.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.92 COP 38.3K

$7.54 HNL 202

58.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 3,693

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 COP 7,791

$4.10 HNL 110

-40.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,702

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 131.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,541

$2.04 HNL 54.5

-30.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,160

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.83 COP 25.2K

$9.91 HNL 265

-20.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,037

$1.05 HNL 28.10

-10.48%

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

$17.8K COP 57.3M

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

$27.1K COP 87.1M

$30.3K HNL 809.8K

-10.55%

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

$83.3 COP 267.9K

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

$9.66 COP 31.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.22 COP 77.9K

$98.4 HNL 2,633

-75.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.22 COP 81.2K

$60.4 HNL 1,614

-58.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.33 COP 62.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.07 COP 13.1K

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

$307 COP 986.5K

$425 HNL 11.4K

-27.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,981 COP 19.2M

$4,118 HNL 110.1K

45.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 192.9K

$40.11 HNL 1,073

49.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.65 COP 105.1K

$20.18 HNL 540

61.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 325.2K

$39.47 HNL 1,056

156.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 347.6K

$50.9 HNL 1,361

112.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.5M

$844 HNL 22.6K

-43.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.2M

$550 HNL 14.7K

-31.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$816 COP 2.6M

$741 HNL 19.8K

10.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$707 COP 2.3M

$1,248 HNL 33.4K

-43.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,190 COP 10.3M

$1,873 HNL 50.1K

70.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,446 COP 4.7M

$1,335 HNL 35.7K

8.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$622 COP 2.0M

$492 HNL 13.2K

26.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-25.39%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026

Last update for Roatan: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $844 in Roatan. 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 26% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $40.00 in Roatan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $264 – 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 Roatan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Roatan is pricier by about 19%, 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 $1,527 per month in Medellin and $1,818 in Roatan. 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 $40.00 in Roatan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Roatan, 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 $1,018, than in Roatan at $1,212. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Roatan 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, Roatan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.