🙂A single person spends $706 per month in Old Harbour vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,148 per month in Old Harbour vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,589 per month in Old Harbour vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Old Harbour is about 31% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Old Harbour and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Old Harbour47% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Old Harbour
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.28JMD 988
$5.95COP 20.8K
5.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.93JMD 5,022
$33.33COP 116.3K
-4.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.11JMD 804
$7.23COP 25.2K
-29.32%
Cappuccino
$4.33JMD 681
$1.63COP 5,687
165.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97JMD 153
$1.09COP 3,821
-11.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65JMD 103
$0.73COP 2,548
-10.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.52JMD 397
$1.74COP 6,065
44.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12JMD 490
$3.23COP 11.3K
-3.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Old Harbour
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.21JMD 661
$1.05COP 3,662
300.95%
White Bread(500g)
$3.64JMD 572
$1.29COP 4,515
182.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61JMD 253
$1.32COP 4,617
21.97%
Eggs
$3.55JMD 558
$2.27COP 7,927
56.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.55JMD 558
$4.35COP 15.2K
-18.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48JMD 1,019
$5.88COP 20.5K
10.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.75JMD 1,219
$8.61COP 30.0K
-9.99%
Apples(1kg)
$6.04JMD 950
$2.25COP 7,844
168.44%
Banana(1kg)
$2.98JMD 469
$1.07COP 3,733
178.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.25JMD 668
$1.52COP 5,322
179.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02JMD 318
$1.42COP 4,964
42.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12JMD 333
$1.17COP 4,084
81.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94JMD 305
$1.17COP 4,077
65.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.10JMD 487
$0.89COP 3,096
248.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45JMD 229
$0.90COP 3,146
61.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.80JMD 1,384
$2.25COP 7,837
291.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.49JMD 1,807
$11.04COP 38.5K
4.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80JMD 441
$1.14COP 3,977
145.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07JMD 484
$2.38COP 8,301
28.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Old Harbour
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.84COP 2,916
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09JMD 171
$1.41COP 4,912
-22.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.24JMD 509
$1.90COP 6,634
70.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.34JMD 998
$7.75COP 27.0K
-18.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07JMD 168
$1.01COP 3,509
5.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.7KJMD 6.9M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
148.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3KJMD 5.2M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
25.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Old Harbour
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.1JMD 8,032
$83.7COP 292.1K
-38.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.20JMD 3,491
$9.45COP 33.0K
134.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.35JMD 6,818
$24.11COP 84.1K
79.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Old Harbour
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.31COP 88.3K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.39JMD 2,105
$4.10COP 14.3K
226.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Old Harbour
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$226JMD 35.6K
$312COP 1.1M
-27.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,512JMD 395.0K
$5,993COP 20.9M
-58.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Old Harbour
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.04JMD 4,095
$58.0COP 202.6K
-55.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.00JMD 4,089
$32.56COP 113.6K
-20.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.7JMD 11.1K
$99.6COP 347.7K
-29.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.4JMD 11.9K
$109COP 378.8K
-30.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Old Harbour
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$482COP 1.7M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$379COP 1.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$837COP 2.9M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$723COP 2.5M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Old Harbour
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
13.43
-31.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Old Harbour: June 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Old Harbour versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $324 in Old Harbour vs $190 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Old Harbour vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Old Harbour?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 44%, 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 $1,059 per month in Old Harbour and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Old Harbour or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Old Harbour and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Old Harbour and Medellin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 71% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Old Harbour or Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Old Harbour, where all-in costs run around $706, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Old Harbour it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Old Harbour or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Old Harbour – 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 Old Harbour. 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.
Old Harbour vs other spots: cost of living compared