😐A single person spends $2,097 per month in Oldham vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,037 per month in Oldham vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,976 per month in Oldham vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Oldham costs about 107% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Oldham sits 56% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oldham
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.61£15.35
$5.99COP 21.4K
244.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.4£65.1
$32.86COP 117.2K
165.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.23£7.62
$7.09COP 25.3K
44.29%
Cappuccino
$4.86£3.62
$1.71COP 6,105
184.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61£1.95
$1.10COP 3,918
137.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74£1.29
$0.78COP 2,776
123.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.83£5.09
$1.68COP 5,987
306.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93£4.42
$3.07COP 10.9K
93.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oldham
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63£1.22
$1.09COP 3,899
49.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.71£1.27
$1.26COP 4,500
35.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.38£2.52
$1.38COP 4,914
144.93%
Eggs
$3.93£2.92
$2.19COP 7,813
79.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.71£7.98
$4.40COP 15.7K
143.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.74£7.25
$5.63COP 20.1K
73.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.44£12.99
$8.89COP 31.7K
96.18%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31£2.47
$2.34COP 8,334
41.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91£1.42
$1.06COP 3,771
80.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.11£2.32
$1.50COP 5,365
107.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.71£2.77
$1.38COP 4,915
168.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78£1.33
$1.15COP 4,104
54.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88£1.40
$1.16COP 4,148
62.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31£0.98
$0.89COP 3,176
47.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45£1.08
$0.84COP 2,992
72.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.53£13.80
$2.28COP 8,131
712.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.32£7.69
$10.64COP 37.9K
-3.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75£2.05
$1.20COP 4,276
129.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42£2.55
$2.47COP 8,809
38.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Oldham
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.45£2.57
$0.86COP 3,051
301.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$83.7£62.4
$41.40COP 147.6K
102.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.39£4.02
$1.47COP 5,255
266.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.74£1.29
$1.96COP 6,997
-11.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.60£25.03
$7.74COP 27.6K
334.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88£1.40
$0.95COP 3,403
97.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K£28.3K
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
109.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4K£30.8K
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
56.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oldham
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$303£226
$82.3COP 293.2K
268.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.17£17.26
$9.50COP 33.9K
143.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.56£32.44
$24.23COP 86.4K
79.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oldham
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.04£35.04
$25.89COP 92.3K
81.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00COP 67.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.68£9.44
$3.93COP 14.0K
222.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oldham
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,584£1,180
$309COP 1.1M
411.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,885£5,128
$5,965COP 21.3M
15.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oldham
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4£68.1
$58.7COP 209.1K
55.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.64£31.02
$32.35COP 115.3K
28.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.5£65.2
$103COP 365.7K
-14.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.1£54.4
$108COP 386.5K
-32.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oldham
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,240£924
$476COP 1.7M
160.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$751£559
$379COP 1.4M
98.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,401£1,044
$838COP 3.0M
67.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,110£827
$724COP 2.6M
53.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,791COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,211COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oldham
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,457£1,830
$512COP 1.8M
380.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.6
13.43
-58.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oldham: May 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,240 in Oldham 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.
💰Salaries run about 380% higher in Oldham, 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 $87.0 in Oldham versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $328 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
Oldham vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Oldham?
Yes – Oldham is pricier by about 107%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $3,145 per month in Oldham and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Oldham or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Oldham and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Oldham vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,097 in Oldham and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Oldham or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Oldham at $2,097. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oldham it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Oldham 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, Oldham makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.