Cost of Living Comparison Between Oshawa and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Oshawa and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,584 per month in Oshawa vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,795 per month in Oshawa vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,005 per month in Oshawa vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Oshawa costs about 154% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Oshawa sits 92% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.70 CA$26.11
$5.95 COP 20.8K
214.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.5 CA$103
$33.33 COP 116.3K
120.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.14 CA$14.16
$7.23 COP 25.2K
40.25%
Cappuccino
$3.62 CA$5.05
$1.63 COP 5,687
122.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 CA$2.67
$1.09 COP 3,821
75.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.16
$0.73 COP 2,548
112.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.07 CA$7.08
$1.74 COP 6,065
191.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.31 CA$8.81
$3.23 COP 11.3K
95.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.55 CA$3.56
$1.05 COP 3,662
142.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 CA$3.78
$1.29 COP 4,515
110.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.77 CA$5.27
$1.32 COP 4,617
185.61%
Eggs
$3.44 CA$4.81
$2.27 COP 7,927
51.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.17 CA$16.99
$4.35 COP 15.2K
179.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.42 CA$15.95
$5.88 COP 20.5K
94.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.17 CA$22.58
$8.61 COP 30.0K
87.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 CA$5.02
$2.25 COP 7,844
60.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 CA$1.63
$1.07 COP 3,733
9.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.93 CA$5.48
$1.52 COP 5,322
158.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.87 CA$6.80
$1.42 COP 4,964
242.96%
Potato (1kg)
$4.77 CA$6.66
$1.17 COP 4,084
307.69%
Onion (1kg)
$3.34 CA$4.67
$1.17 COP 4,077
185.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.91 CA$4.06
$0.89 COP 3,096
226.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 CA$1.78
$0.90 COP 3,146
41.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.77 CA$20.63
$2.25 COP 7,837
556.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.79 CA$17.85
$11.04 COP 38.5K
15.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.12 CA$4.35
$1.14 COP 3,977
173.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 CA$4.07
$2.38 COP 8,301
22.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.62 CA$3.65
$0.84 COP 2,916
211.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.0 CA$124
$41.95 COP 146.4K
112.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.72 CA$5.19
$1.41 COP 4,912
163.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.21 CA$3.09
$1.90 COP 6,634
16.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.12 CA$30.89
$7.75 COP 27.0K
185.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 CA$1.58
$1.01 COP 3,509
11.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K CA$35.5K
$17.6K COP 61.4M
44.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K CA$29.0K
$26.5K COP 92.5M
-21.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$232 CA$324
$83.7 COP 292.1K
177.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 CA$83.0
$9.45 COP 33.0K
528.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.4 CA$104
$24.11 COP 84.1K
208.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.70 CA$58.2
$25.31 COP 88.3K
64.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.85 CA$51.5
$19.14 COP 66.8K
92.53%
Cinema Ticket
$12.20 CA$17.04
$4.10 COP 14.3K
197.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,324 CA$1,848
$312 COP 1.1M
324.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K CA$16.4K
$5,993 COP 20.9M
96.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 CA$81.9
$58.0 COP 202.6K
1.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.4 CA$80.2
$32.56 COP 113.6K
76.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 CA$164
$99.6 COP 347.7K
17.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 CA$217
$109 COP 378.8K
42.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,259 CA$1,759
$482 COP 1.7M
161.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,159 CA$1,619
$379 COP 1.3M
205.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,041 CA$2,850
$837 COP 2.9M
143.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,920 CA$2,682
$723 COP 2.5M
165.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,230 CA$7,304
$2,840 COP 9.9M
84.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$10.4K CA$14.5K
$1,223 COP 4.3M
750.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,987 CA$4,171
$541 COP 1.9M
452.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.21
13.43
-53.76%

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

Last update for Oshawa: June 9, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,259 in Oshawa versus $482 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 452% higher in Oshawa, 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 $73.0 in Oshawa versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $383 vs $190 – 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
Oshawa vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Oshawa?
Yes – Oshawa is pricier by about 154%, 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 $3,877 per month in Oshawa and $1,525 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 Oshawa or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in Oshawa 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 Oshawa vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,584 in Oshawa and $1,017 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 Oshawa or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Oshawa at $2,584. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oshawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Oshawa 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, Oshawa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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