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 $928 per month in Ocho Rios vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,932 per month in Ocho Rios vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,936 per month in Ocho Rios vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Ocho Rios is about 8% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ocho Rios and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Ocho Rios 31% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.32 JMD 1,147

$5.99 COP 21.4K

22.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.2 JMD 9,741

$32.86 COP 117.4K

89.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.30 JMD 988

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-11.14%

Cappuccino

$2.79 JMD 437

$1.71 COP 6,115

63.16%

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

$1.38 JMD 216

$1.10 COP 3,924

25.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 119

$0.78 COP 2,781

-2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 JMD 353

$1.68 COP 5,997

34.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 JMD 497

$3.07 COP 11.0K

3.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.95 JMD 619

$1.09 COP 3,906

262.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 JMD 426

$1.26 COP 4,508

115.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 JMD 244

$1.38 COP 4,922

13.04%

Eggs

$3.47 JMD 544

$2.19 COP 7,827

58.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.48 JMD 1,015

$4.40 COP 15.7K

47.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.34 JMD 994

$5.63 COP 20.1K

12.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.47 JMD 1,171

$8.89 COP 31.8K

-15.97%

Apples (1kg)

$5.90 JMD 924

$2.34 COP 8,349

152.14%

Banana (1kg)

$3.16 JMD 495

$1.06 COP 3,777

198.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.11 JMD 644

$1.50 COP 5,374

174.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 JMD 354

$1.38 COP 4,924

63.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 JMD 320

$1.15 COP 4,111

77.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 JMD 318

$1.16 COP 4,155

75.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 JMD 327

$0.89 COP 3,182

133.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 JMD 170

$0.84 COP 2,997

28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.97 JMD 1,405

$2.28 COP 8,145

293.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.63 JMD 1,509

$10.64 COP 38.0K

-9.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.45 JMD 384

$1.20 COP 4,284

104.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 JMD 473

$2.47 COP 8,824

22.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.54 JMD 242

$0.86 COP 3,056

79.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 JMD 101

$1.47 COP 5,264

-55.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 JMD 150

$1.96 COP 7,009

-51.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.38 JMD 1,000

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-17.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 201

$0.95 COP 3,409

34.74%

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

$42.9K JMD 6.7M

$18.1K COP 64.7M

136.66%

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

$33.9K JMD 5.3M

$26.5K COP 94.6M

27.92%

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

$103 JMD 16.2K

$82.3 COP 293.7K

25.64%

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

$22.01 JMD 3,448

$9.50 COP 33.9K

131.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.06 JMD 5,963

$24.23 COP 86.5K

57.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.73 JMD 2,465

$25.89 COP 92.4K

-39.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.80 JMD 909

$19.00 COP 67.9K

-69.47%

Cinema Ticket

$11.46 JMD 1,795

$3.93 COP 14.0K

191.60%

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

$224 JMD 35.1K

$309 COP 1.1M

-27.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,461 JMD 385.6K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-58.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.92 JMD 2,495

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-72.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$12.36 JMD 1,937

$32.35 COP 115.5K

-61.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.8 JMD 7,954

$103 COP 366.4K

-50.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.2 JMD 9,902

$108 COP 387.2K

-41.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 JMD 59.8K

$476 COP 1.7M

-19.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 JMD 28.9K

$379 COP 1.4M

-51.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,185 JMD 185.7K

$838 COP 3.0M

41.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,217 JMD 190.7K

$724 COP 2.6M

68.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $382 in Ocho Rios versus $476 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: $306 vs $188 – 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 9%, 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 $1,391 per month in Ocho Rios and $1,519 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 62% 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 $928, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.