Cost of Living Comparison Between Oranjestad and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Oranjestad and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,985 per month in Oranjestad vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,132 per month in Oranjestad vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,279 per month in Oranjestad vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Oranjestad costs about 98% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Oranjestad sits 49% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.90 AWG 33.83

$5.91 COP 18.6K

219.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.3 AWG 144

$32.96 COP 103.8K

143.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.45 AWG 18.70

$7.43 COP 23.4K

40.65%

Cappuccino

$3.74 AWG 6.70

$1.65 COP 5,207

126.67%

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

$1.41 AWG 2.52

$1.10 COP 3,468

28.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 AWG 2.89

$0.78 COP 2,458

106.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 AWG 5.27

$1.72 COP 5,412

70.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 AWG 7.07

$3.18 COP 10.0K

24.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 AWG 3.40

$1.10 COP 3,474

72.73%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 AWG 5.40

$1.26 COP 3,962

139.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.89 AWG 5.17

$1.38 COP 4,349

109.42%

Eggs

$5.31 AWG 9.50

$2.18 COP 6,858

143.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.56 AWG 22.48

$4.49 COP 14.1K

179.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.06 AWG 16.22

$5.79 COP 18.2K

56.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.32 AWG 22.05

$8.97 COP 28.2K

37.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 AWG 8.24

$2.32 COP 7,308

98.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.30 AWG 4.12

$1.06 COP 3,352

116.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.94 AWG 8.84

$1.52 COP 4,774

225.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.54 AWG 6.34

$1.36 COP 4,270

160.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 AWG 4.00

$1.13 COP 3,552

97.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 AWG 3.48

$1.17 COP 3,689

66.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 AWG 4.78

$0.90 COP 2,838

196.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 AWG 2.83

$0.90 COP 2,823

75.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.95 AWG 17.80

$2.23 COP 7,034

346.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.25 AWG 18.34

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-15.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.91 AWG 6.99

$1.19 COP 3,743

228.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 AWG 7.94

$2.48 COP 7,815

79.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.21 AWG 3.95

$0.85 COP 2,687

160.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.60 AWG 53.0

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-28.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$17.15 AWG 30.70

$1.42 COP 4,459

1107.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.79 AWG 6.78

$1.95 COP 6,141

94.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.63 AWG 44.07

$7.89 COP 24.8K

212.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 AWG 2.73

$0.99 COP 3,118

54.55%

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

$26.4K AWG 47.3K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

50.05%

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

$35.5K AWG 63.6K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

32.61%

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

$250 AWG 447

$83.0 COP 261.4K

201.02%

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

$48.78 AWG 87.3

$9.70 COP 30.5K

402.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$105 AWG 189

$23.52 COP 74.1K

348.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$105 AWG 189

$25.26 COP 79.5K

317.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.32 AWG 47.09

$19.10 COP 60.1K

37.80%

Cinema Ticket

$11.85 AWG 21.21

$3.95 COP 12.4K

200.00%

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

$246 AWG 441

$316 COP 994.2K

-22.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,679 AWG 15.5K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

45.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 AWG 107

$60.0 COP 188.9K

0.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.1 AWG 89.6

$31.82 COP 100.2K

57.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 AWG 194

$102 COP 320.1K

6.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 AWG 183

$107 COP 338.3K

-4.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$669 AWG 1,198

$475 COP 1.5M

40.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$577 AWG 1,033

$374 COP 1.2M

54.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,451 AWG 2,596

$849 COP 2.7M

70.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,361 AWG 2,436

$719 COP 2.3M

89.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,204 AWG 3,944

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-32.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,736 AWG 3,107

$1,441 COP 4.5M

20.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,737 AWG 3,108

$624 COP 2.0M

178.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.25

13.43

-53.46%

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

Last update for Oranjestad: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $669 in Oranjestad versus $475 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 178% higher in Oranjestad, 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 $80.0 in Oranjestad versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $365 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

Oranjestad vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Oranjestad is pricier by about 98%, 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 $2,978 per month in Oranjestad and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Oranjestad and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,985 in Oranjestad and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Oranjestad at $1,985. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oranjestad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Oranjestad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.