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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,652 per month in Paradise vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,131 per month in Paradise vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,610 per month in Paradise vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Paradise costs about 63% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Paradise sits 23% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.54 GYD 1,983

$5.99 COP 21.4K

59.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.6 GYD 13.6K

$32.86 COP 117.4K

99.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.44 GYD 1,754

$7.09 COP 25.3K

19.04%

Cappuccino

$4.25 GYD 884

$1.71 COP 6,115

148.54%

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

$1.17 GYD 244

$1.10 COP 3,924

6.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 GYD 146

$0.78 COP 2,781

-10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 GYD 462

$1.68 COP 5,997

32.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 GYD 509

$3.07 COP 11.0K

-20.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.68 GYD 764

$1.09 COP 3,906

237.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.87 GYD 388

$1.26 COP 4,508

48.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 GYD 373

$1.38 COP 4,922

29.71%

Eggs

$3.57 GYD 743

$2.19 COP 7,827

63.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 GYD 2,121

$4.40 COP 15.7K

131.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.94 GYD 1,236

$5.63 COP 20.1K

5.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.27 GYD 1,927

$8.89 COP 31.8K

4.27%

Apples (1kg)

$3.87 GYD 804

$2.34 COP 8,349

65.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 GYD 462

$1.06 COP 3,777

109.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 GYD 485

$1.50 COP 5,374

55.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 GYD 508

$1.38 COP 4,924

77.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 GYD 299

$1.15 COP 4,111

25.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 GYD 418

$1.16 COP 4,155

73.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 GYD 272

$0.89 COP 3,182

47.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 GYD 340

$0.84 COP 2,997

95.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 GYD 468

$2.28 COP 8,145

-1.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.02 GYD 2,291

$10.64 COP 38.0K

3.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.66 GYD 346

$1.20 COP 4,284

38.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 GYD 506

$2.47 COP 8,824

-1.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 GYD 123

$0.86 COP 3,056

-31.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.51 GYD 6,135

$41.40 COP 147.9K

-28.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.43 GYD 505

$1.47 COP 5,264

65.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.40 GYD 706

$1.96 COP 7,009

73.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.66 GYD 2,008

$7.74 COP 27.6K

24.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 GYD 224

$0.95 COP 3,409

13.68%

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

$16.0K GYD 3.3M

$18.1K COP 64.7M

-11.58%

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

$18.0K GYD 3.7M

$26.5K COP 94.6M

-32.15%

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

$76.2 GYD 15.8K

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-7.38%

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

$27.83 GYD 5,787

$9.50 COP 33.9K

192.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.7 GYD 14.3K

$24.23 COP 86.5K

183.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.2 GYD 10.4K

$25.89 COP 92.4K

93.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.36 GYD 1,323

$3.93 COP 14.0K

61.83%

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

$919 GYD 191.0K

$309 COP 1.1M

196.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.6K GYD 4.3M

$5,965 COP 21.3M

244.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.45 GYD 6,746

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-44.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.01 GYD 9,982

$32.35 COP 115.5K

48.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.3 GYD 13.2K

$103 COP 366.4K

-38.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.2 GYD 13.1K

$108 COP 387.2K

-41.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$300 GYD 62.3K

$476 COP 1.7M

-37.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$799 GYD 166.2K

$379 COP 1.4M

111.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,201 GYD 249.7K

$838 COP 3.0M

43.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 GYD 136.7K

$724 COP 2.6M

-9.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,380 GYD 702.7K

$2,791 COP 10.0M

21.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$458 GYD 95.2K

$1,211 COP 4.3M

-62.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$733 GYD 152.4K

$512 COP 1.8M

43.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.11

13.43

-47.06%

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

Last update for Paradise: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $300 in Paradise 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 43% higher in Paradise, 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 $66.0 in Paradise versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 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

Paradise vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Paradise is pricier by about 63%, 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 $2,478 per month in Paradise and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Paradise and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,652 in Paradise and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Paradise at $1,652. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Paradise 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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Paradise makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.