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 $2,199 per month in Red Deer vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,126 per month in Red Deer vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,053 per month in Red Deer vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Red Deer costs about 117% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Red Deer sits 64% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.01 CA$24.94
$5.99 COP 21.4K
200.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.7 CA$77.1
$32.86 COP 117.4K
69.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.01 CA$15.24
$7.09 COP 25.3K
55.29%
Cappuccino
$3.88 CA$5.37
$1.71 COP 6,115
126.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 CA$2.42
$1.10 COP 3,924
59.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 CA$2.41
$0.78 COP 2,781
123.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.86 CA$6.73
$1.68 COP 5,997
189.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.80 CA$8.03
$3.07 COP 11.0K
88.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 CA$2.44
$1.09 COP 3,906
61.47%
White Bread (500g)
$2.82 CA$3.90
$1.26 COP 4,508
123.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.06 CA$4.23
$1.38 COP 4,922
121.74%
Eggs
$3.21 CA$4.45
$2.19 COP 7,827
46.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.46 CA$14.48
$4.40 COP 15.7K
137.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.36 CA$17.11
$5.63 COP 20.1K
119.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 CA$19.37
$8.89 COP 31.8K
57.37%
Apples (1kg)
$4.60 CA$6.37
$2.34 COP 8,349
96.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 CA$1.91
$1.06 COP 3,777
30.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.84 CA$5.31
$1.50 COP 5,374
156.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.58 CA$4.96
$1.38 COP 4,924
159.42%
Potato (1kg)
$2.44 CA$3.38
$1.15 COP 4,111
112.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 CA$3.09
$1.16 COP 4,155
92.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.62 CA$3.63
$0.89 COP 3,182
194.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 CA$2.69
$0.84 COP 2,997
132.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.45 CA$20.00
$2.28 COP 8,145
533.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.66 CA$20.30
$10.64 COP 38.0K
37.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.09 CA$4.27
$1.20 COP 4,284
157.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 CA$4.42
$2.47 COP 8,824
29.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.16 CA$2.99
$0.86 COP 3,056
151.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.3 CA$75.2
$41.40 COP 147.9K
31.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.71 CA$3.75
$1.47 COP 5,264
84.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.33 CA$1.85
$1.96 COP 7,009
-32.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.78 CA$32.92
$7.74 COP 27.6K
207.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 CA$1.49
$0.95 COP 3,409
13.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K CA$34.1K
$18.1K COP 64.7M
35.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K CA$30.9K
$26.5K COP 94.6M
-15.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$192 CA$265
$82.3 COP 293.7K
133.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.60 CA$61.8
$9.50 COP 33.9K
369.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.8 CA$91.0
$24.23 COP 86.5K
171.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.36 CA$55.9
$25.89 COP 92.4K
55.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.08 CA$15.34
$19.00 COP 67.9K
-41.68%
Cinema Ticket
$11.00 CA$15.23
$3.93 COP 14.0K
179.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 CA$978
$309 COP 1.1M
128.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K CA$16.2K
$5,965 COP 21.3M
96.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.03 CA$67.9
$58.7 COP 209.5K
-16.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.31 CA$47.51
$32.35 COP 115.5K
6.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.6 CA$103
$103 COP 366.4K
-27.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 CA$140
$108 COP 387.2K
-6.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,106 CA$1,531
$476 COP 1.7M
132.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$988 CA$1,368
$379 COP 1.4M
160.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,495 CA$2,069
$838 COP 3.0M
78.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 CA$1,951
$724 COP 2.6M
94.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,837 CA$3,928
$2,791 COP 10.0M
1.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,859 CA$3,959
$1,211 COP 4.3M
136.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Red Deer
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,015 CA$4,175
$512 COP 1.8M
489.15%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,106 in Red Deer 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 489% 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 $56.0 in Red Deer versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $367 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
Red Deer vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Red Deer?
Yes – Red Deer is pricier by about 117%, 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 $3,299 per month in Red Deer 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 Red Deer or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,199 in Red Deer 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 Red Deer or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Red Deer at $2,199. 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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