Cost of Living Comparison Between Nanaimo, BC and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Nanaimo, BC and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,404 per month in Nanaimo, BC vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,508 per month in Nanaimo, BC vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,612 per month in Nanaimo, BC vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Nanaimo, BC costs about 140% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Nanaimo, BC sits 81% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.15 CA$25.44

$5.91 COP 18.6K

207.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.6 CA$87.7

$32.96 COP 103.8K

89.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.23 CA$18.54

$7.43 COP 23.4K

78.06%

Cappuccino

$4.05 CA$5.68

$1.65 COP 5,207

145.45%

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

$2.58 CA$3.61

$1.10 COP 3,468

134.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 CA$2.85

$0.78 COP 2,458

161.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 CA$8.30

$1.72 COP 5,412

244.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 CA$8.15

$3.18 COP 10.0K

82.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 CA$2.53

$1.10 COP 3,474

64.55%

White Bread (500g)

$3.36 CA$4.71

$1.26 COP 3,962

166.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.25 CA$5.96

$1.38 COP 4,349

207.97%

Eggs

$3.93 CA$5.50

$2.18 COP 6,858

80.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.65 CA$16.33

$4.49 COP 14.1K

159.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.79 CA$22.13

$5.79 COP 18.2K

172.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.96 CA$25.17

$8.97 COP 28.2K

100.22%

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 CA$6.31

$2.32 COP 7,308

93.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 CA$2.28

$1.06 COP 3,352

53.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.52 CA$4.93

$1.52 COP 4,774

131.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.60 CA$6.44

$1.36 COP 4,270

238.24%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 CA$4.40

$1.13 COP 3,552

177.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.90 CA$4.07

$1.17 COP 3,689

147.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.10 CA$4.35

$0.90 COP 2,838

244.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 CA$3.15

$0.90 COP 2,823

150.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.19 CA$18.49

$2.23 COP 7,034

491.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.99 CA$19.61

$12.12 COP 38.2K

15.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.38 CA$3.34

$1.19 COP 3,743

100.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 CA$4.64

$2.48 COP 7,815

33.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.88 CA$2.64

$0.85 COP 2,687

121.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.24 CA$67.6

$41.62 COP 131.0K

15.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 CA$3.98

$1.42 COP 4,459

100.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 CA$1.86

$1.95 COP 6,141

-31.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.49 CA$48.34

$7.89 COP 24.8K

337.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 CA$1.83

$0.99 COP 3,118

31.31%

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

$25.4K CA$35.5K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

44.09%

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

$20.2K CA$28.3K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-24.76%

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

$118 CA$166

$83.0 COP 261.4K

42.44%

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

$46.09 CA$64.6

$9.70 COP 30.5K

375.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.3 CA$94.3

$23.52 COP 74.1K

186.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.48 CA$42.72

$25.26 COP 79.5K

20.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.85 CA$15.20

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-43.19%

Cinema Ticket

$11.18 CA$15.67

$3.95 COP 12.4K

183.04%

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

$786 CA$1,101

$316 COP 994.2K

148.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.0K CA$16.9K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

101.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.06 CA$63.1

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-24.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.16 CA$47.87

$31.82 COP 100.2K

7.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.5 CA$114

$102 COP 320.1K

-19.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.4 CA$139

$107 COP 338.3K

-7.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,322 CA$1,853

$475 COP 1.5M

178.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,161 CA$1,627

$374 COP 1.2M

210.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,010 CA$2,817

$849 COP 2.7M

136.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,942 CA$2,721

$719 COP 2.3M

169.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,809 CA$5,337

$3,265 COP 10.3M

16.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,492 CA$4,893

$1,441 COP 4.5M

142.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,145 CA$4,407

$624 COP 2.0M

403.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.47

13.43

-51.82%

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

Last update for Nanaimo, BC: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,322 in Nanaimo, BC versus $475 in Medellin. 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 404% higher in Nanaimo, BC, 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 $63.0 in Nanaimo, BC versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $423 vs $193 – 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

Nanaimo, BC vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Nanaimo, BC is pricier by about 140%, 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 $3,606 per month in Nanaimo, BC and $1,504 in Medellin. 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 $63.0 in Nanaimo, BC and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,404 in Nanaimo, BC and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Nanaimo, BC at $2,404. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nanaimo, BC 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, Nanaimo, BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.