Cost of Living Comparison Between Red Deer and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Red Deer and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,163 per month in Red Deer vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,106 per month in Red Deer vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,048 per month in Red Deer vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Red Deer costs about 110% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Red Deer sits 62% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.38 CA$24.36
$6.16 COP 20.1K
182.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.8 CA$76.8
$32.60 COP 106.1K
67.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.92 CA$15.31
$7.34 COP 23.9K
48.77%
Cappuccino
$3.83 CA$5.36
$1.72 COP 5,600
122.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 CA$2.48
$1.05 COP 3,420
68.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 CA$2.49
$0.77 COP 2,515
131.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.73 CA$6.63
$1.69 COP 5,488
179.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77 CA$8.09
$3.17 COP 10.3K
82.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 CA$2.44
$1.05 COP 3,423
65.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 CA$4.02
$1.30 COP 4,236
120.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.07 CA$4.30
$1.40 COP 4,544
119.29%
Eggs
$3.18 CA$4.45
$2.16 COP 7,047
47.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.59 CA$14.84
$4.39 COP 14.3K
141.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.54 CA$17.59
$5.88 COP 19.1K
113.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.61 CA$19.09
$8.64 COP 28.1K
57.52%
Apples (1kg)
$4.73 CA$6.64
$2.28 COP 7,426
107.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 CA$1.91
$1.11 COP 3,604
22.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.84 CA$5.39
$1.53 COP 4,983
150.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.58 CA$5.02
$1.35 COP 4,410
165.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 CA$3.43
$1.13 COP 3,674
116.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 CA$3.08
$1.13 COP 3,692
94.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.72 CA$3.81
$0.85 COP 2,753
220.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 CA$2.71
$0.91 COP 2,975
112.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.82 CA$20.77
$2.34 COP 7,630
533.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.16 CA$19.85
$12.37 COP 40.3K
14.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.96 CA$4.14
$1.20 COP 3,909
146.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 CA$4.44
$2.49 COP 8,104
27.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.27 CA$3.18
$0.84 COP 2,728
170.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.5 CA$75.0
$40.57 COP 132.1K
31.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.83 CA$3.96
$1.42 COP 4,623
99.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 CA$1.83
$1.92 COP 6,235
-32.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.82 CA$33.40
$7.66 COP 24.9K
210.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 CA$1.49
$0.99 COP 3,223
7.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K CA$34.6K
$18.0K COP 58.7M
36.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K CA$30.9K
$26.6K COP 86.7M
-17.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 CA$273
$80.8 COP 263.1K
141.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.84 CA$62.9
$9.95 COP 32.4K
350.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.3 CA$92.9
$24.18 COP 78.7K
174.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.98 CA$56.1
$25.08 COP 81.7K
59.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.09 CA$15.55
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-42.09%
Cinema Ticket
$11.00 CA$15.43
$3.98 COP 13.0K
176.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$700 CA$982
$305 COP 993.5K
129.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K CA$16.6K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
95.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.23 CA$69.0
$58.1 COP 189.2K
-15.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.28 CA$49.47
$32.20 COP 104.8K
9.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.5 CA$107
$101 COP 327.9K
-24.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 CA$145
$108 COP 350.8K
-4.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,094 CA$1,533
$477 COP 1.6M
129.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$998 CA$1,399
$376 COP 1.2M
165.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,484 CA$2,080
$845 COP 2.7M
75.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,450 CA$2,033
$730 COP 2.4M
98.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,758 CA$3,866
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-14.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,691 CA$3,773
$1,372 COP 4.5M
96.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,969 CA$4,163
$617 COP 2.0M
381.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.08
13.43
-54.73%

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

Last update for Red Deer: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,094 in Red Deer 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 381% higher in Red Deer, 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 $55.0 in Red Deer versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $367 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
Red Deer vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Red Deer?
Yes – Red Deer is pricier by about 110%, 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 $3,245 per month in Red Deer and $1,546 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 Red Deer or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Red Deer 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 Red Deer and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,163 in Red Deer and $1,031 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 living in Red Deer or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Red Deer at $2,163. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Red Deer it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Red Deer 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, Red Deer makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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