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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,014 per month in Medellin vs $1,213 in Roatan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,596 per month in Medellin vs $1,999 in Roatan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,178 per month in Medellin vs $2,786 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 25% lower, Roatan 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.14 COP 22.2K

$7.66 HNL 204

-19.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.05 COP 119.3K

$40.15 HNL 1,066

-17.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.32 COP 26.4K

$8.93 HNL 237

-18.03%

Cappuccino

$1.66 COP 5,987

$3.77 HNL 100

-55.97%

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

$1.10 COP 3,987

$1.20 HNL 31.91

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,822

$0.75 HNL 19.91

4.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 COP 6,188

$2.29 HNL 60.9

-25.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 11.5K

$3.94 HNL 105

-19.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 COP 4,012

$1.31 HNL 34.71

-15.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,719

$3.38 HNL 89.8

-61.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,980

$2.24 HNL 59.5

-38.39%

Eggs

$2.22 COP 8,009

$1.98 HNL 52.6

12.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.34 COP 15.7K

$10.91 HNL 290

-60.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 COP 20.9K

$6.63 HNL 176

-12.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.98 COP 32.4K

$17.91 HNL 476

-49.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 COP 8,164

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,023

$1.08 HNL 28.56

2.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 COP 5,284

$1.08 HNL 28.63

35.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,929

$0.57 HNL 15.08

140.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,009

$1.08 HNL 28.62

2.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,199

$1.11 HNL 29.61

4.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,211

$0.99 HNL 26.24

-10.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 COP 3,124

$2.95 HNL 78.3

-70.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 8,495

$2.95 HNL 78.3

-20.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.86 COP 39.2K

$7.60 HNL 202

42.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,330

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,946

$3.94 HNL 105

-37.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,842

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.77 COP 147.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 5,137

$1.97 HNL 52.4

-27.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,900

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.65 COP 27.6K

$9.86 HNL 262

-22.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 COP 3,490

$1.06 HNL 28.13

-8.49%

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

$18.1K COP 65.3M

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

$26.3K COP 95.0M

$30.5K HNL 810.6K

-13.80%

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

$81.3 COP 293.5K

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

$9.63 COP 34.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.36 COP 88.0K

$102 HNL 2,703

-76.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.02 COP 93.9K

$60.9 HNL 1,618

-57.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 COP 68.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.89 COP 14.0K

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

$304 COP 1.1M

$422 HNL 11.2K

-27.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,902 COP 21.3M

$4,274 HNL 113.5K

38.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 211.8K

$40.69 HNL 1,081

44.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.48 COP 117.2K

$20.38 HNL 541

59.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 367.3K

$40.69 HNL 1,081

150.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 390.4K

$49.22 HNL 1,307

119.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 COP 1.7M

$838 HNL 22.3K

-43.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

$542 HNL 14.4K

-31.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$848 COP 3.1M

$729 HNL 19.4K

16.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$1,226 HNL 32.6K

-41.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,871 COP 10.4M

$1,910 HNL 50.7K

50.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,375 COP 5.0M

$1,336 HNL 35.5K

2.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$542 COP 2.0M

$507 HNL 13.5K

6.89%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Roatan: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Medellin versus $838 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 7% 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 in Medellin versus $40 in Roatan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $265 – 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 20%, 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 $1,522 per month in Medellin and $1,819 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 39% 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 $1,014, than in Roatan at $1,213. 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.