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 $1,706 per month in Paradise Island vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,952 per month in Paradise Island vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,198 per month in Paradise Island vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Paradise Island costs about 68% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Paradise Island sits 27% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$40.69 BSD 40.69

$5.95 COP 20.8K

583.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$151 BSD 151

$33.33 COP 116.3K

352.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.96 BSD 9.96

$7.23 COP 25.2K

37.76%

Cappuccino

$4.86 BSD 4.86

$1.63 COP 5,687

198.16%

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

$2.36 BSD 2.36

$1.09 COP 3,821

116.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 BSD 1.79

$0.73 COP 2,548

145.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.06 BSD 4.06

$1.74 COP 6,065

133.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.89 BSD 5.89

$3.23 COP 11.3K

82.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.66 BSD 4.66

$1.05 COP 3,662

343.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.91 BSD 2.91

$1.29 COP 4,515

125.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.15 BSD 6.15

$1.32 COP 4,617

365.91%

Eggs

$7.84 BSD 7.84

$2.27 COP 7,927

245.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.57 BSD 8.57

$4.35 COP 15.2K

97.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.91 BSD 11.91

$5.88 COP 20.5K

102.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.96 BSD 20.96

$8.61 COP 30.0K

143.44%

Apples (1kg)

$5.19 BSD 5.19

$2.25 COP 7,844

130.67%

Banana (1kg)

$3.49 BSD 3.49

$1.07 COP 3,733

226.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 BSD 4.76

$1.52 COP 5,322

213.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.20 BSD 7.20

$1.42 COP 4,964

407.04%

Potato (1kg)

$5.14 BSD 5.14

$1.17 COP 4,084

339.32%

Onion (1kg)

$4.49 BSD 4.49

$1.17 COP 4,077

283.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.60 BSD 3.60

$0.89 COP 3,096

304.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.00 BSD 3.00

$0.90 COP 3,146

233.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.94 BSD 13.94

$2.25 COP 7,837

519.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$34.57 BSD 34.57

$11.04 COP 38.5K

213.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.86 BSD 3.86

$1.14 COP 3,977

238.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.27 BSD 4.27

$2.38 COP 8,301

79.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 BSD 6.02

$1.41 COP 4,912

326.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$101 BSD 101

$7.75 COP 27.0K

1208.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 BSD 1.40

$1.01 COP 3,509

38.61%

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

$37.6K BSD 37.6K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

113.82%

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

$42.8K BSD 42.8K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

61.45%

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

$199 BSD 199

$83.7 COP 292.1K

137.42%

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

$70.8 BSD 70.8

$9.45 COP 33.0K

649.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 BSD 101

$24.11 COP 84.1K

318.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$129 BSD 129

$25.31 COP 88.3K

411.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$14.75 BSD 14.75

$4.10 COP 14.3K

259.76%

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

$730 BSD 730

$312 COP 1.1M

134.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K BSD 15.0K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

151.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 BSD 64.6

$58.0 COP 202.6K

11.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$77.3 BSD 77.3

$32.56 COP 113.6K

137.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 BSD 114

$99.6 COP 347.7K

14.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 BSD 129

$109 COP 378.8K

18.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,475 BSD 5,475

$837 COP 2.9M

553.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,474 BSD 2,474

$541 COP 1.9M

357.43%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 357% 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: $554 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 68%, 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 $2,560 per month in Paradise Island and $1,525 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 192% 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 $1,017, than in Paradise Island at $1,706. 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.