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 $1,623 per month in Paradise Island vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,796 per month in Paradise Island vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,970 per month in Paradise Island vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Paradise Island costs about 62% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Paradise Island sits 22% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$39.88 BSD 39.88

$5.91 COP 18.6K

574.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$151 BSD 151

$32.96 COP 103.8K

358.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.83 BSD 9.83

$7.43 COP 23.4K

32.30%

Cappuccino

$4.96 BSD 4.96

$1.65 COP 5,207

200.61%

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

$2.23 BSD 2.23

$1.10 COP 3,468

102.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 BSD 1.79

$0.78 COP 2,458

129.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.92 BSD 3.92

$1.72 COP 5,412

127.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.06 BSD 6.06

$3.18 COP 10.0K

90.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.73 BSD 4.73

$1.10 COP 3,474

330.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.97 BSD 2.97

$1.26 COP 3,962

135.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.40 BSD 6.40

$1.38 COP 4,349

363.77%

Eggs

$7.49 BSD 7.49

$2.18 COP 6,858

243.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 BSD 8.49

$4.49 COP 14.1K

89.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.98 BSD 11.98

$5.79 COP 18.2K

106.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.38 BSD 20.38

$8.97 COP 28.2K

127.20%

Apples (1kg)

$5.36 BSD 5.36

$2.32 COP 7,308

131.03%

Banana (1kg)

$3.49 BSD 3.49

$1.06 COP 3,352

229.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.71 BSD 4.71

$1.52 COP 4,774

209.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.13 BSD 7.13

$1.36 COP 4,270

424.26%

Potato (1kg)

$4.97 BSD 4.97

$1.13 COP 3,552

339.82%

Onion (1kg)

$4.27 BSD 4.27

$1.17 COP 3,689

264.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.53 BSD 3.53

$0.90 COP 2,838

292.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 BSD 2.98

$0.90 COP 2,823

231.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.63 BSD 13.63

$2.23 COP 7,034

511.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.89 BSD 3.89

$1.19 COP 3,743

226.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 BSD 4.38

$2.48 COP 7,815

76.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.88 BSD 5.88

$1.42 COP 4,459

314.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$102 BSD 102

$7.89 COP 24.8K

1190.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 BSD 1.43

$0.99 COP 3,118

44.44%

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

$37.0K BSD 37.0K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

110.10%

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

$43.6K BSD 43.6K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

62.55%

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

$199 BSD 199

$83.0 COP 261.4K

139.89%

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

$71.0 BSD 71.0

$9.70 COP 30.5K

632.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$98.3 BSD 98.3

$23.52 COP 74.1K

317.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 BSD 128

$25.26 COP 79.5K

406.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$15.17 BSD 15.17

$3.95 COP 12.4K

284.05%

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

$709 BSD 709

$316 COP 994.2K

124.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.3K BSD 15.3K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

155.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 BSD 63.6

$60.0 COP 188.9K

6.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.5 BSD 75.5

$31.82 COP 100.2K

137.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 BSD 115

$102 COP 320.1K

13.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 BSD 126

$107 COP 338.3K

17.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,591 BSD 5,591

$849 COP 2.7M

558.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,540 BSD 2,540

$624 COP 2.0M

306.83%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 307% 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 $151 in Paradise Island versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $483 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

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

Yes – Paradise Island is pricier by about 62%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,434 per month in Paradise Island and $1,504 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 $151 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 150% 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 $1,003, than in Paradise Island at $1,623. 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.