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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,666 per month in Paradise vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,164 per month in Paradise vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,663 per month in Paradise vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Paradise is about 1% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Paradise and Medellin sit above the global median – Paradise by 22%, Medellin by 23%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Paradise
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.84 GYD 2,046
$8.02 COP 25.0K
22.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.2 GYD 13.4K
$47.87 COP 149.4K
34.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.54 GYD 1,775
$9.89 COP 30.8K
-13.65%
Cappuccino
$4.50 GYD 935
$3.13 COP 9,767
43.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 GYD 254
$1.91 COP 5,954
-36.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 GYD 143
$1.51 COP 4,712
-54.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 GYD 459
$3.12 COP 9,747
-29.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 GYD 505
$5.75 COP 17.9K
-57.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Paradise
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.58 GYD 745
$1.44 COP 4,509
148.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.86 GYD 387
$2.49 COP 7,759
-25.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 GYD 383
$1.77 COP 5,535
3.95%
Eggs
$3.39 GYD 705
$2.96 COP 9,235
14.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.88 GYD 2,053
$10.07 COP 31.4K
-1.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.76 GYD 1,198
$10.12 COP 31.6K
-43.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.17 GYD 1,906
$14.30 COP 44.6K
-35.87%
Apples (1kg)
$4.03 GYD 838
$4.14 COP 12.9K
-2.66%
Banana (1kg)
$2.22 GYD 461
$1.61 COP 5,019
37.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 GYD 497
$2.25 COP 7,007
6.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 GYD 528
$2.25 COP 7,028
12.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 GYD 286
$2.04 COP 6,375
-32.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 GYD 413
$1.54 COP 4,790
29.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 GYD 282
$1.17 COP 3,651
15.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 GYD 349
$1.31 COP 4,077
28.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18 GYD 453
$3.90 COP 12.2K
-44.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.97 GYD 2,281
$14.01 COP 43.7K
-21.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 GYD 347
$1.74 COP 5,439
-4.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 GYD 501
$2.87 COP 8,956
-16.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Paradise
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.58 GYD 121
$1.22 COP 3,792
-52.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.37 GYD 6,106
$80.5 COP 251.1K
-63.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.45 GYD 509
$1.31 COP 4,084
87.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.40 GYD 706
$2.19 COP 6,825
55.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.73 GYD 2,024
$8.71 COP 27.2K
11.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 GYD 224
$1.37 COP 4,260
-21.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.7K GYD 3.3M
$27.8K COP 86.9M
-43.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K GYD 3.8M
$35.8K COP 111.6M
-49.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Paradise
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.1 GYD 16.0K
$177 COP 553.2K
-56.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.63 GYD 5,744
$13.88 COP 43.3K
99.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.9 GYD 14.3K
$29.72 COP 92.8K
131.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Paradise
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.9 GYD 10.6K
$44.88 COP 140.1K
13.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12 COP 53.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 GYD 1,288
$6.65 COP 20.7K
-6.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Paradise
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$905 GYD 188.1K
$813 COP 2.5M
11.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.0K GYD 4.2M
$9,187 COP 28.7M
117.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Paradise
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.18 GYD 6,689
$89.5 COP 279.3K
-64.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.46 GYD 9,658
$59.0 COP 184.0K
-21.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.6 GYD 12.8K
$138 COP 431.2K
-55.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.2 GYD 13.1K
$102 COP 318.7K
-38.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Paradise
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$299 GYD 62.1K
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-71.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$801 GYD 166.6K
$663 COP 2.1M
20.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 GYD 245.4K
$1,888 COP 5.9M
-37.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$662 GYD 137.6K
$1,027 COP 3.2M
-35.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,411 GYD 709.2K
$4,183 COP 13.1M
-18.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$470 GYD 97.6K
$1,675 COP 5.2M
-71.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Paradise
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$716 GYD 148.8K
$678 COP 2.1M
5.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.11
10.94
-35.01%

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

Last update for Paradise: September 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $299 in Paradise versus $1,062 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 6% higher in Paradise, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Paradise versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $286 in Paradise vs $305 in Medellin – so Paradise wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Is Medellin cheaper than Paradise?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $2,499 per month in Paradise and $2,521 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 Paradise, 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 Paradise or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Paradise and $48.00 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 Paradise and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,666 in Paradise and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Paradise or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Paradise, where all-in costs run around $1,666, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Paradise it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Paradise or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Paradise – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Paradise. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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