Cost of Living Comparison Between Paradise Island and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Paradise Island and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,757 per month in Paradise Island vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,914 per month in Paradise Island vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,070 per month in Paradise Island vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Paradise Island costs about 70% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Paradise Island sits 31% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$40.45 BSD 40.45

$5.92 COP 21.4K

583.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$150 BSD 150

$32.75 COP 118.2K

358.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.97 BSD 9.97

$7.20 COP 26.0K

38.47%

Cappuccino

$5.05 BSD 5.05

$1.70 COP 6,140

197.06%

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

$2.23 BSD 2.23

$1.10 COP 3,966

102.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 BSD 1.70

$0.72 COP 2,605

136.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.05 BSD 4.05

$1.67 COP 6,022

142.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.03 BSD 6.03

$3.10 COP 11.2K

94.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.84 BSD 4.84

$1.06 COP 3,809

356.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.04 BSD 3.04

$1.25 COP 4,497

143.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.28 BSD 6.28

$1.39 COP 5,022

351.80%

Eggs

$7.83 BSD 7.83

$2.26 COP 8,168

246.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.46 BSD 8.46

$4.33 COP 15.6K

95.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.22 BSD 12.22

$5.84 COP 21.1K

109.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.93 BSD 20.93

$8.83 COP 31.9K

137.03%

Apples (1kg)

$5.23 BSD 5.23

$2.24 COP 8,099

133.48%

Banana (1kg)

$3.40 BSD 3.40

$1.08 COP 3,882

214.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.82 BSD 4.82

$1.53 COP 5,522

215.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.02 BSD 7.02

$1.37 COP 4,950

412.41%

Potato (1kg)

$4.96 BSD 4.96

$1.13 COP 4,078

338.94%

Onion (1kg)

$4.42 BSD 4.42

$1.12 COP 4,036

294.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.48 BSD 3.48

$0.85 COP 3,057

309.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.08 BSD 3.08

$0.91 COP 3,281

238.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.73 BSD 13.73

$2.33 COP 8,414

489.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$34.33 BSD 34.33

$11.13 COP 40.2K

208.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.86 BSD 3.86

$1.19 COP 4,309

224.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 BSD 4.29

$2.37 COP 8,553

81.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.18 BSD 6.18

$1.44 COP 5,184

329.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$100 BSD 100

$8.02 COP 28.9K

1148.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 BSD 1.41

$0.94 COP 3,385

50.00%

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

$36.8K BSD 36.8K

$17.9K COP 64.7M

105.45%

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

$43.0K BSD 43.0K

$26.8K COP 96.7M

60.40%

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

$197 BSD 197

$84.0 COP 303.1K

134.59%

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

$71.7 BSD 71.7

$9.60 COP 34.7K

646.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$98.5 BSD 98.5

$24.16 COP 87.2K

307.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$129 BSD 129

$25.88 COP 93.4K

398.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$14.77 BSD 14.77

$3.92 COP 14.1K

276.79%

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

$712 BSD 712

$306 COP 1.1M

132.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.3K BSD 15.3K

$5,919 COP 21.4M

158.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.4 BSD 64.4

$57.9 COP 209.1K

11.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.8 BSD 76.8

$31.82 COP 114.9K

141.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 BSD 117

$99.9 COP 360.6K

17.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 BSD 129

$107 COP 386.8K

20.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,536 BSD 5,536

$826 COP 3.0M

570.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,486 BSD 2,486

$546 COP 2.0M

355.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.05

13.43

-47.51%

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

Last update for Paradise Island: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 356% higher in Paradise Island, 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 $150 in Paradise Island versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $557 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

Paradise Island vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Paradise Island is pricier by about 70%, 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 $2,636 per month in Paradise Island and $1,550 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $150 in Paradise Island and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 193% more in Paradise Island, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Paradise Island at $1,757. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Paradise Island 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, Paradise Island makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.