🙂A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $2,037 in Stratford, ON, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $3,294 in Stratford, ON, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $4,551 in Stratford, ON, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 19% cheaper than Stratford, ON, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Stratford, ON sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Stratford, ON by 48%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Stratford, ON
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$18.00CA$24.96
-55.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.7K
$50.0CA$69.4
-3.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$11.42CA$15.84
-17.51%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,045
$3.51CA$4.87
-16.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,738
$1.51CA$2.10
23.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,481
$1.38CA$1.91
5.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,887
$4.38CA$6.07
-26.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$4.73CA$6.55
20.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Stratford, ON
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,431
$2.17CA$3.01
-33.64%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,393
$2.97CA$4.12
-19.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,230
$3.82CA$5.29
-55.50%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,901
$2.95CA$4.10
-2.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 31.0K
$9.69CA$13.43
3.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$11.44CA$15.86
-12.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$34.97CA$48.49
-59.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$3.75CA$5.19
6.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,880
$1.03CA$1.43
53.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,627
$4.84CA$6.71
-55.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,082
$4.14CA$5.75
-44.44%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,172
$3.36CA$4.66
-40.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,648
$2.45CA$3.39
-38.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,703
$2.46CA$3.41
-51.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,948
$1.35CA$1.87
-5.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$11.36CA$15.76
-66.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$11.08CA$15.37
26.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,259
$3.54CA$4.90
-51.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,444
$3.07CA$4.26
-10.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Stratford, ON
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,836
$2.14CA$2.97
-41.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.9K
$50.1CA$69.5
55.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,018
$2.37CA$3.28
-44.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,684
$1.87CA$2.59
16.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$24.33CA$33.75
-65.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,174
$1.08CA$1.49
25.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.6M
$28.6KCA$39.6K
-3.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.5M
$20.6KCA$28.6K
77.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Stratford, ON
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.5K
$127CA$176
32.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$39.53CA$54.8
-65.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$32.27CA$44.75
-12.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Stratford, ON
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.8K
$44.24CA$61.4
3.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
$20.10CA$27.88
-14.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$10.58CA$14.68
-37.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Stratford, ON
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$831CA$1,153
-3.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$17.2KCA$23.8K
-46.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Stratford, ON
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 269.0K
$47.42CA$65.8
84.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.8K
$36.90CA$51.2
60.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.7K
$78.1CA$108
77.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.2K
$126CA$174
-18.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Stratford, ON
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$1,227CA$1,702
-12.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$920CA$1,275
-28.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$2,181CA$3,025
-11.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$1,857CA$2,575
-43.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$3,725CA$5,166
10.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Stratford, ON
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$2,730CA$3,786
-76.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.99
119.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Stratford, ON: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $1,227 in Stratford, ON. 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 317% higher in Stratford, ON, 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 $50.0 in Stratford, ON. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $422 – 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 Stratford, ON: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stratford, ON cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Stratford, ON is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $3,056 in Stratford, ON. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Stratford, ON?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $50.0 in Stratford, ON. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Stratford, ON?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $2,037 in Stratford, ON. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Stratford, ON?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Stratford, ON at $2,037. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stratford, ON it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Stratford, ON more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stratford, ON makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.