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