😐A single person spends $1,157 per month in Oistins vs $1,028 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,743 per month in Oistins vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,329 per month in Oistins vs $2,144 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Oistins costs about 12% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Oistins and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Oistins13% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oistins
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.70BBD 39.40
$6.00COP 20.6K
228.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$32.84COP 112.5K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.42COP 25.4K
-
Cappuccino
$6.10BBD 12.21
$1.65COP 5,659
269.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26BBD 2.53
$1.07COP 3,663
17.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.76COP 2,607
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.72COP 5,908
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.20COP 11.0K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oistins
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.97BBD 5.93
$1.05COP 3,597
182.86%
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.31COP 4,479
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.34COP 4,591
-
Eggs
-
$2.19COP 7,521
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$4.41COP 15.1K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$5.69COP 19.5K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$8.52COP 29.2K
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.34COP 8,023
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.11COP 3,804
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.52COP 5,210
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$1.37COP 4,680
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.15COP 3,950
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.18COP 4,043
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.84COP 2,885
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.86COP 2,931
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.26COP 7,753
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$11.60COP 39.8K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.20COP 4,109
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.48COP 8,484
-
🚌 Getting Around
Oistins
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.70BBD 3.40
$0.79COP 2,721
115.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.83COP 139.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.47COP 5,023
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.92COP 6,568
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.77COP 26.6K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93BBD 3.86
$1.01COP 3,464
91.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$17.7KCOP 60.5M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.5KCOP 90.7M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oistins
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$81.1COP 277.9K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$9.43COP 32.3K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.62BBD 95.2
$23.86COP 81.8K
99.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oistins
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.5BBD 101
$25.99COP 89.1K
94.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.71COP 64.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.09COP 14.0K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oistins
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$315COP 1.1M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$6,022COP 20.6M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oistins
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.8BBD 102
$59.7COP 204.6K
-14.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$31.97COP 109.6K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$101COP 346.9K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$105COP 360.3K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oistins
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$485COP 1.7M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$737BBD 1,474
$365COP 1.3M
101.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$827COP 2.8M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496BBD 2,993
$730COP 2.5M
104.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,992COP 10.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,314COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oistins
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$551COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
13.43
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oistins: June 15, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026
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
Oistins vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Oistins?
Yes – Oistins is pricier by about 12%, 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 $1,735 per month in Oistins and $1,542 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Oistins vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,157 in Oistins and $1,028 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Oistins and Medellin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 540% cheaper in Oistins – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Oistins or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,028, than in Oistins at $1,157. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oistins it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Oistins or Medellin 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, Oistins makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.