😐A single person spends $3,083 per month in Oxford vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,405 per month in Oxford vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,726 per month in Oxford vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Oxford costs about 204% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Oxford sits 130% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oxford
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.09£14.93
$5.99COP 21.4K
235.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.5£57.6
$32.86COP 117.4K
135.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.39£7.73
$7.09COP 25.3K
46.54%
Cappuccino
$4.65£3.46
$1.71COP 6,115
171.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31£1.72
$1.10COP 3,924
110.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82£1.35
$0.78COP 2,781
133.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.25£6.13
$1.68COP 5,997
391.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.28£5.41
$3.07COP 11.0K
137.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oxford
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95£1.45
$1.09COP 3,906
78.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63£1.21
$1.26COP 4,508
29.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.93£2.18
$1.38COP 4,922
112.32%
Eggs
$5.19£3.86
$2.19COP 7,827
136.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.29£10.62
$4.40COP 15.7K
224.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.39£6.98
$5.63COP 20.1K
66.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.39£10.70
$8.89COP 31.8K
61.87%
Apples(1kg)
$4.08£3.04
$2.34COP 8,349
74.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56£1.16
$1.06COP 3,777
47.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.21£2.38
$1.50COP 5,374
114.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.56£4.13
$1.38COP 4,924
302.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.68£1.25
$1.15COP 4,111
46.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.96£1.46
$1.16COP 4,155
68.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05£0.78
$0.89COP 3,182
17.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02£1.50
$0.84COP 2,997
140.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.74£14.67
$2.28COP 8,145
765.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.16£8.30
$10.64COP 38.0K
4.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.60£2.68
$1.20COP 4,284
200.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66£3.46
$2.47COP 8,824
88.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Oxford
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.38£2.51
$0.86COP 3,056
293.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$112£83.2
$41.40COP 147.9K
170.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.05£5.98
$1.47COP 5,264
447.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89£1.40
$1.96COP 7,009
-3.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.31£24.76
$7.74COP 27.6K
330.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93£1.43
$0.95COP 3,409
103.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K£28.3K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
109.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.2K£32.9K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
66.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oxford
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$384£285
$82.3COP 293.7K
366.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.63£13.84
$9.50COP 33.9K
96.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.94£34.89
$24.23COP 86.5K
93.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oxford
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.2£43.27
$25.89COP 92.4K
124.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.30£9.14
$19.00COP 67.9K
-35.26%
Cinema Ticket
$15.10£11.22
$3.93COP 14.0K
284.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oxford
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,758£1,307
$309COP 1.1M
468.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$53.3K£39.6K
$5,965COP 21.3M
792.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oxford
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.0£71.4
$58.7COP 209.5K
63.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5£39.05
$32.35COP 115.5K
62.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.6£69.6
$103COP 366.4K
-8.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118£88.0
$108COP 387.2K
9.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oxford
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,139£1,590
$476COP 1.7M
349.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,532£1,139
$379COP 1.4M
304.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,534£2,627
$838COP 3.0M
321.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,510£1,866
$724COP 2.6M
246.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,154£6,061
$2,791COP 10.0M
192.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,899£5,128
$1,211COP 4.3M
469.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oxford
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,073£3,027
$512COP 1.8M
695.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.74
13.43
-57.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oxford: June 2, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,139 in Oxford 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 696% higher in Oxford, 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 $77.0 in Oxford versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 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
Oxford vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Oxford?
Yes – Oxford is pricier by about 204%, 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 $4,625 per month in Oxford 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 Oxford or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $77.0 in Oxford 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 Oxford vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,083 in Oxford 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 Oxford or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Oxford at $3,083. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Oxford it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Oxford 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 safer, Oxford or Medellin?
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.
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, Oxford makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.