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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,659 per month in Paradise vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,119 per month in Paradise vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,580 per month in Paradise vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Paradise costs about 61% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.66 GYD 2,010

$6.16 COP 20.1K

56.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.6 GYD 13.2K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

95.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.50 GYD 1,768

$7.34 COP 23.9K

15.80%

Cappuccino

$4.49 GYD 933

$1.72 COP 5,600

161.05%

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

$1.22 GYD 254

$1.05 COP 3,420

16.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 GYD 133

$0.77 COP 2,515

-16.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 GYD 467

$1.69 COP 5,488

32.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 GYD 504

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-23.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.75 GYD 780

$1.05 COP 3,423

257.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.79 GYD 372

$1.30 COP 4,236

37.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 GYD 374

$1.40 COP 4,544

28.57%

Eggs

$3.56 GYD 741

$2.16 COP 7,047

64.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.84 GYD 2,046

$4.39 COP 14.3K

124.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.92 GYD 1,232

$5.88 COP 19.1K

0.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.53 GYD 1,982

$8.64 COP 28.1K

10.30%

Apples (1kg)

$4.01 GYD 835

$2.28 COP 7,426

75.88%

Banana (1kg)

$2.28 GYD 474

$1.11 COP 3,604

105.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 GYD 474

$1.53 COP 4,983

49.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.49 GYD 517

$1.35 COP 4,410

84.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 GYD 302

$1.13 COP 3,674

28.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 GYD 418

$1.13 COP 3,692

77.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 GYD 277

$0.85 COP 2,753

56.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 GYD 349

$0.91 COP 2,975

84.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.22 GYD 461

$2.34 COP 7,630

-5.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.81 GYD 2,248

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-12.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 GYD 341

$1.20 COP 3,909

36.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 GYD 501

$2.49 COP 8,104

-3.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 GYD 118

$0.84 COP 2,728

-32.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.13 GYD 6,266

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-25.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.35 GYD 489

$1.42 COP 4,623

65.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.29 GYD 685

$1.92 COP 6,235

71.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.65 GYD 2,006

$7.66 COP 24.9K

25.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 GYD 225

$0.99 COP 3,223

9.09%

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

$16.1K GYD 3.3M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

-10.68%

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

$18.0K GYD 3.7M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-32.33%

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

$75.4 GYD 15.7K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-6.71%

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

$27.40 GYD 5,699

$9.95 COP 32.4K

175.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.8 GYD 14.1K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

180.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.62 GYD 10.3K

$25.08 COP 81.7K

97.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$6.36 GYD 1,323

$3.98 COP 13.0K

59.80%

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

$932 GYD 193.9K

$305 COP 993.5K

205.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.7K GYD 4.3M

$6,059 COP 19.7M

241.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.01 GYD 6,658

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-44.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.35 GYD 9,847

$32.20 COP 104.8K

47.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.4 GYD 12.8K

$101 COP 327.9K

-39.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.2 GYD 13.2K

$108 COP 350.8K

-41.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$296 GYD 61.6K

$477 COP 1.6M

-37.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$790 GYD 164.3K

$376 COP 1.2M

109.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,196 GYD 248.8K

$845 COP 2.7M

41.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$655 GYD 136.2K

$730 COP 2.4M

-10.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,425 GYD 712.3K

$3,215 COP 10.5M

6.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$456 GYD 94.8K

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-66.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$721 GYD 149.9K

$617 COP 2.0M

16.84%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $296 in Paradise versus $477 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 17% 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 $64.0 in Paradise versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 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 vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Paradise is pricier by about 61%, 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 $2,488 per month in Paradise and $1,546 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 $64.0 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 $1,659 in Paradise and $1,031 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 $1,031, than in Paradise at $1,659. 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.