😐A single person spends $1,573 per month in Port of Spain vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,743 per month in Port of Spain vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,913 per month in Port of Spain vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Port of Spain costs about 55% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Port of Spain sits 17% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port of Spain
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.21TTD 68.4
$5.99COP 21.4K
70.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.4TTD 599
$32.86COP 117.4K
172.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.31TTD 48.97
$7.09COP 25.3K
3.10%
Cappuccino
$3.66TTD 24.54
$1.71COP 6,115
114.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05TTD 7.01
$1.10COP 3,924
-4.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82TTD 5.50
$0.78COP 2,781
5.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81TTD 12.13
$1.68COP 5,997
7.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05TTD 20.46
$3.07COP 11.0K
-0.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port of Spain
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.63TTD 17.61
$1.09COP 3,906
141.28%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71TTD 18.16
$1.26COP 4,508
115.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.56TTD 17.16
$1.38COP 4,922
85.51%
Eggs
$5.03TTD 33.73
$2.19COP 7,827
129.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.98TTD 53.5
$4.40COP 15.7K
81.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.31TTD 69.1
$5.63COP 20.1K
83.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.21TTD 95.2
$8.89COP 31.8K
59.84%
Apples(1kg)
$5.73TTD 38.38
$2.34COP 8,349
144.87%
Banana(1kg)
$2.51TTD 16.79
$1.06COP 3,777
136.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.34TTD 29.05
$1.50COP 5,374
189.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.82TTD 32.28
$1.38COP 4,924
249.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.45TTD 9.71
$1.15COP 4,111
26.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.67TTD 11.18
$1.16COP 4,155
43.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96TTD 13.15
$0.89COP 3,182
120.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47TTD 9.84
$0.84COP 2,997
75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77TTD 38.67
$2.28COP 8,145
153.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.09TTD 121
$10.64COP 38.0K
70.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17TTD 14.55
$1.20COP 4,284
80.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85TTD 19.07
$2.47COP 8,824
15.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Port of Spain
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06TTD 7.10
$0.86COP 3,056
23.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$95.6TTD 641
$41.40COP 147.9K
130.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05TTD 7.01
$1.47COP 5,264
-28.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.28TTD 8.56
$1.96COP 7,009
-34.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.91TTD 99.9
$7.74COP 27.6K
92.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09TTD 7.31
$0.95COP 3,409
14.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1KTTD 228.1K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
87.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.0KTTD 254.6K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
43.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port of Spain
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.6TTD 540
$82.3COP 293.7K
-1.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.86TTD 307
$9.50COP 33.9K
382.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.2TTD 410
$24.23COP 86.5K
152.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port of Spain
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.7TTD 360
$25.89COP 92.4K
107.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.24TTD 88.7
$19.00COP 67.9K
-30.32%
Cinema Ticket
$10.05TTD 67.3
$3.93COP 14.0K
155.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port of Spain
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$329TTD 2,203
$309COP 1.1M
6.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,096TTD 47.5K
$5,965COP 21.3M
18.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port of Spain
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5TTD 398
$58.7COP 209.5K
1.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.55TTD 258
$32.35COP 115.5K
19.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$144TTD 967
$103COP 366.4K
40.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127TTD 849
$108COP 387.2K
16.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port of Spain
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$759TTD 5,086
$476COP 1.7M
59.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$479TTD 3,208
$379COP 1.4M
26.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,841TTD 12.3K
$838COP 3.0M
119.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,273TTD 8,526
$724COP 2.6M
75.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,382TTD 29.4K
$2,791COP 10.0M
57.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,724TTD 11.5K
$1,211COP 4.3M
42.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port of Spain
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$733TTD 4,908
$512COP 1.8M
43.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.38
13.43
-59.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Port of Spain: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $759 in Port of Spain 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 Port of Spain, 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 $89.0 in Port of Spain versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $373 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
Port of Spain vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Port of Spain?
Yes – Port of Spain is pricier by about 55%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,360 per month in Port of Spain and $1,519 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 Port of Spain or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Port of Spain and $33.00 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 Port of Spain vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,573 in Port of Spain and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Port of Spain or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Port of Spain at $1,573. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port of Spain it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Port of Spain 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 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, Port of Spain makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Port of Spain vs other spots: cost of living compared