😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $795 in Shinas, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,196 in Shinas, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,596 in Shinas, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 30% more than Shinas, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Shinas are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Shinas41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Shinas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$5.26OMR 2.02
17.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$25.73OMR 9.90
26.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$7.96OMR 3.06
-7.79%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$5.00OMR 1.92
-65.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$1.05OMR 0.40
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.31OMR 0.12
148.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$12.28OMR 4.73
-86.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$11.76OMR 4.53
-73.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Shinas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.99OMR 0.77
-47.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$1.18OMR 0.45
10.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.65OMR 0.64
-15.15%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$2.36OMR 0.91
-8.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$3.84OMR 1.48
14.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$5.09OMR 1.96
15.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$8.77OMR 3.37
-1.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$2.54OMR 0.98
-10.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.73OMR 0.67
-35.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.77OMR 0.68
-13.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$1.13OMR 0.44
19.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.97OMR 0.37
16.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.98OMR 0.38
15.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$1.05OMR 0.40
-19.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.52OMR 0.20
75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$6.29OMR 2.42
-62.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$15.38OMR 5.92
-19.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$4.22OMR 1.62
-71.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$7.96OMR 3.06
-68.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Shinas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$3.09OMR 1.19
-54.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.80OMR 0.31
140.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$10.36OMR 3.99
-26.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$0.64OMR 0.25
54.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$23.0KOMR 8,836
-21.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$21.8KOMR 8,388
22.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Shinas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$107OMR 41.01
-24.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$40.69OMR 15.66
-75.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$71.0OMR 27.31
-65.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Shinas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$10.41OMR 4.01
-61.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Shinas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$194OMR 74.7
57.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$9,771OMR 3,760
-37.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Shinas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$51.0OMR 19.62
13.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$39.66OMR 15.26
-18.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$80.0OMR 30.80
25.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$87.7OMR 33.73
22.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Shinas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Shinas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$3,106OMR 1,195
-80.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5.15
160.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Shinas: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 403% higher in Shinas, 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 $26.00 in Shinas. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $230 in Shinas – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Shinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shinas cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,192 in Shinas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Shinas?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $26.00 in Shinas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Shinas?
Interestingly, groceries are about 19% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Shinas?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shinas, where all-in costs run around $795, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Shinas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Shinas more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Shinas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Shinas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.