Cost of Living Comparison Between Pickering, ON and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Pickering, ON and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,593 per month in Pickering, ON vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,624 per month in Pickering, ON vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,655 per month in Pickering, ON vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Pickering, ON costs about 54% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Pickering, ON and Medellin sit above the global median – Pickering, ON by 90%, Medellin by 23%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pickering, ON
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.21 CA$19.88
$8.02 COP 25.0K
77.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.7 CA$79.3
$47.87 COP 149.4K
18.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.65 CA$14.90
$9.89 COP 30.8K
7.68%
Cappuccino
$2.06 CA$2.89
$3.13 COP 9,767
-34.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 CA$2.51
$1.91 COP 5,954
-6.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 CA$2.11
$1.51 COP 4,712
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.67 CA$6.53
$3.12 COP 9,747
49.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.80 CA$6.71
$5.75 COP 17.9K
-16.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pickering, ON
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 CA$3.01
$1.44 COP 4,509
49.31%
White Bread (500g)
$2.13 CA$2.98
$2.49 COP 7,759
-14.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.58 CA$6.41
$1.77 COP 5,535
158.76%
Eggs
$3.65 CA$5.11
$2.96 COP 9,235
23.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.50 CA$13.29
$10.07 COP 31.4K
-5.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.15 CA$15.60
$10.12 COP 31.6K
10.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 CA$19.52
$14.30 COP 44.6K
-2.38%
Apples (1kg)
$3.01 CA$4.21
$4.14 COP 12.9K
-27.29%
Banana (1kg)
$0.56 CA$0.78
$1.61 COP 5,019
-65.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.48 CA$3.47
$2.25 COP 7,007
10.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.09 CA$2.93
$2.25 COP 7,028
-7.11%
Potato (1kg)
$2.10 CA$2.94
$2.04 COP 6,375
2.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.61 CA$3.66
$1.54 COP 4,790
69.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.66 CA$3.72
$1.17 COP 3,651
127.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 CA$1.79
$1.31 COP 4,077
-2.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.87 CA$19.40
$3.90 COP 12.2K
255.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.00 CA$18.18
$14.01 COP 43.7K
-7.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 CA$2.48
$1.74 COP 5,439
2.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 CA$3.31
$2.87 COP 8,956
-17.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Pickering, ON
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.70 CA$3.77
$1.22 COP 3,792
121.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$163 CA$229
$80.5 COP 251.1K
103.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.92 CA$4.09
$1.31 COP 4,084
122.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.27 CA$3.17
$2.19 COP 6,825
3.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.39 CA$31.32
$8.71 COP 27.2K
157.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 CA$1.64
$1.37 COP 4,260
-14.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K CA$35.6K
$27.8K COP 86.9M
-8.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K CA$29.3K
$35.8K COP 111.6M
-41.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pickering, ON
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$106 CA$148
$177 COP 553.2K
-40.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.91 CA$44.64
$13.88 COP 43.3K
129.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.0 CA$74.1
$29.72 COP 92.8K
78.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pickering, ON
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.8 CA$85.1
$44.88 COP 140.1K
35.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.03 CA$37.81
$17.12 COP 53.4K
57.89%
Cinema Ticket
$11.37 CA$15.91
$6.65 COP 20.7K
70.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pickering, ON
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$507 CA$709
$813 COP 2.5M
-37.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.3K CA$39.5K
$9,187 COP 28.7M
207.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pickering, ON
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 CA$105
$89.5 COP 279.3K
-16.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 CA$73.5
$59.0 COP 184.0K
-10.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.4 CA$115
$138 COP 431.2K
-40.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 CA$109
$102 COP 318.7K
-23.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pickering, ON
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,635 CA$2,287
$1,062 COP 3.3M
53.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,520 CA$2,127
$663 COP 2.1M
129.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,526 CA$3,534
$1,888 COP 5.9M
33.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,222 CA$3,108
$1,027 COP 3.2M
116.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,335 CA$6,064
$4,183 COP 13.1M
3.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,980 CA$5,567
$1,675 COP 5.2M
137.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pickering, ON
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,033 CA$4,244
$678 COP 2.1M
347.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
10.94
-61.43%

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

Last update for Pickering, ON: September 15, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,635 in Pickering, ON 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 348% higher in Pickering, ON, 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 $57.0 in Pickering, ON versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $318 vs $305 – 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
Pickering, ON vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Pickering, ON?
Yes – Pickering, ON is pricier by about 54%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $3,889 per month in Pickering, ON 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 Medellin, 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 Pickering, ON or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Pickering, ON 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 Pickering, ON and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,593 in Pickering, ON 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 Pickering, ON or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Pickering, ON at $2,593. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pickering, ON it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Pickering, ON or Medellin more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Pickering, ON or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pickering, ON makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Pickering, ON vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities