😐A single person spends $2,357 per month in Oshawa vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,382 per month in Oshawa vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,407 per month in Oshawa vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Oshawa costs about 40% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Oshawa and Medellin sit above the global median – Oshawa by 72%, Medellin by 23%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.23CA$19.90
$8.02COP 25.3K
77.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.1CA$89.7
$47.87COP 151.0K
33.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.44CA$11.81
$9.89COP 31.2K
-14.66%
Cappuccino
$3.50CA$4.90
$3.13COP 9,873
11.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73CA$2.42
$1.91COP 6,019
-9.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43CA$2.00
$1.51COP 4,763
-5.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.17CA$7.23
$3.12COP 9,853
65.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14CA$8.59
$5.75COP 18.1K
6.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.91CA$4.08
$1.44COP 4,558
102.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.89CA$4.04
$2.49COP 7,843
16.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.09CA$5.72
$1.77COP 5,595
131.07%
Eggs
$3.01CA$4.20
$2.96COP 9,336
1.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.96CA$13.94
$10.07COP 31.8K
-1.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.31CA$20.02
$10.12COP 31.9K
41.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.65CA$23.29
$14.30COP 45.1K
16.43%
Apples(1kg)
$4.33CA$6.06
$4.14COP 13.0K
4.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20CA$1.68
$1.61COP 5,073
-25.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.82CA$3.95
$2.25COP 7,083
25.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.84CA$5.37
$2.25COP 7,104
70.67%
Potato(1kg)
$3.53CA$4.94
$2.04COP 6,444
73.04%
Onion(1kg)
$2.62CA$3.66
$1.54COP 4,842
70.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.36CA$3.31
$1.17COP 3,691
101.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70CA$2.38
$1.31COP 4,121
29.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.46CA$20.24
$3.90COP 12.3K
270.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.63CA$17.67
$14.01COP 44.2K
-9.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.55CA$4.96
$1.74COP 5,498
104.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59CA$5.02
$2.87COP 9,053
25.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.57CA$3.60
$1.22COP 3,834
110.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.3CA$97.0
$80.5COP 253.9K
-13.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.50CA$4.90
$1.31COP 4,129
167.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70CA$0.97
$2.19COP 6,899
-68.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.03CA$25.23
$8.71COP 27.5K
107.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12CA$1.56
$1.37COP 4,306
-18.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2KCA$39.5K
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
1.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1KCA$28.2K
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
-43.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138CA$193
$177COP 559.3K
-22.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.91CA$54.4
$13.88COP 43.8K
180.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.0CA$74.1
$29.72COP 93.8K
78.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.31CA$41.01
$44.88COP 141.6K
-34.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.67CA$40.11
$17.12COP 54.0K
67.46%
Cinema Ticket
$10.99CA$15.37
$6.65COP 21.0K
65.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,202CA$1,682
$813COP 2.6M
47.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$9,187COP 29.0M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.5CA$79.0
$89.5COP 282.3K
-36.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.8CA$79.4
$59.0COP 186.0K
-3.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105CA$147
$138COP 435.9K
-23.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133CA$185
$102COP 322.1K
29.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,379CA$1,929
$1,062COP 3.3M
29.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238CA$1,732
$663COP 2.1M
86.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,970CA$2,757
$1,888COP 6.0M
4.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,822CA$2,549
$1,027COP 3.2M
77.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,258CA$7,357
$4,183COP 13.2M
25.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$10.4KCA$14.6K
$1,675COP 5.3M
521.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oshawa
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,044CA$4,259
$678COP 2.1M
349.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
10.94
-58.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oshawa: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,379 in Oshawa versus $1,062 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 349% 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 $64.0 in Oshawa versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $393 vs $305 – 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 40%, 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 $3,536 per month in Oshawa and $2,521 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 in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Oshawa and $48.00 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,357 in Oshawa and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Oshawa or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Oshawa at $2,357. 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.