Cost of Living Comparison Between Ocho Rios and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Ocho Rios and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $904 per month in Ocho Rios vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,927 per month in Ocho Rios vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,950 per month in Ocho Rios vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Ocho Rios is about 12% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ocho Rios and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Ocho Rios 32% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.61 JMD 1,200

$6.16 COP 20.1K

23.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.1 JMD 9,793

$32.60 COP 106.1K

90.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.24 JMD 983

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-14.99%

Cappuccino

$2.79 JMD 440

$1.72 COP 5,600

62.21%

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

$1.37 JMD 217

$1.05 COP 3,420

30.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 JMD 117

$0.77 COP 2,515

-3.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 JMD 350

$1.69 COP 5,488

31.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 JMD 484

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-3.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.08 JMD 644

$1.05 COP 3,423

288.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.80 JMD 441

$1.30 COP 4,236

115.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 JMD 245

$1.40 COP 4,544

11.43%

Eggs

$3.53 JMD 556

$2.16 COP 7,047

63.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.64 JMD 1,046

$4.39 COP 14.3K

51.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.47 JMD 1,020

$5.88 COP 19.1K

10.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 JMD 1,189

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-12.73%

Apples (1kg)

$6.08 JMD 958

$2.28 COP 7,426

166.67%

Banana (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 495

$1.11 COP 3,604

182.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.34 JMD 684

$1.53 COP 4,983

183.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.35 JMD 370

$1.35 COP 4,410

74.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 JMD 321

$1.13 COP 3,674

80.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 304

$1.13 COP 3,692

70.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 JMD 330

$0.85 COP 2,753

147.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 JMD 177

$0.91 COP 2,975

23.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.97 JMD 1,414

$2.34 COP 7,630

283.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.70 JMD 1,528

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-21.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 JMD 382

$1.20 COP 3,909

101.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 JMD 460

$2.49 COP 8,104

17.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.60 JMD 252

$0.84 COP 2,728

90.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 JMD 104

$1.42 COP 4,623

-53.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.93 JMD 147

$1.92 COP 6,235

-51.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 JMD 981

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-18.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 JMD 196

$0.99 COP 3,223

25.25%

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

$42.5K JMD 6.7M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

135.87%

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

$33.9K JMD 5.3M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

27.18%

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

$107 JMD 16.8K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

31.99%

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

$21.93 JMD 3,456

$9.95 COP 32.4K

120.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.44 JMD 6,215

$24.18 COP 78.7K

63.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.78 JMD 2,487

$25.08 COP 81.7K

-37.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.71 JMD 900

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-70.18%

Cinema Ticket

$11.31 JMD 1,782

$3.98 COP 13.0K

184.17%

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

$228 JMD 35.9K

$305 COP 993.5K

-25.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,464 JMD 388.4K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-59.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.78 JMD 2,487

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-72.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.51 JMD 1,971

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-61.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.26 JMD 7,763

$101 COP 327.9K

-51.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.4 JMD 9,831

$108 COP 350.8K

-42.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$372 JMD 58.6K

$477 COP 1.6M

-21.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$187 JMD 29.5K

$376 COP 1.2M

-50.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,194 JMD 188.2K

$845 COP 2.7M

41.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,184 JMD 186.5K

$730 COP 2.4M

62.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-62.77%

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

Last update for Ocho Rios: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $372 in Ocho Rios versus $477 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $62.0 in Ocho Rios versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $311 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

Ocho Rios vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 14%, 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 $1,355 per month in Ocho Rios and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ocho Rios, 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 $62.0 in Ocho Rios and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 61% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ocho Rios, where all-in costs run around $904, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Ocho Rios it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ocho Rios – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Ocho Rios. 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.