🙂A single person spends $945 per month in Shinas vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Shinas vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,872 per month in Shinas vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Shinas is about 42% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Shinas sits 31% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shinas
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.18OMR 2.00
$8.04COP 24.9K
-35.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.11OMR 13.13
$48.29COP 149.7K
-29.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.88OMR 3.03
$9.42COP 29.2K
-16.35%
Cappuccino
$4.81OMR 1.85
$2.94COP 9,105
63.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91OMR 0.35
$1.86COP 5,776
-51.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27OMR 0.10
$1.46COP 4,511
-81.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.22OMR 5.09
$3.21COP 9,953
311.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.93OMR 4.98
$5.71COP 17.7K
126.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shinas
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.24OMR 0.86
$1.44COP 4,460
55.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25OMR 0.48
$2.40COP 7,442
-47.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85OMR 0.71
$1.70COP 5,265
8.82%
Eggs
$2.89OMR 1.11
$2.89COP 8,960
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.57OMR 2.91
$10.06COP 31.2K
-24.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.56OMR 2.53
$9.97COP 30.9K
-34.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.60OMR 4.08
$14.20COP 44.0K
-25.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.40OMR 1.31
$3.98COP 12.3K
-14.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00OMR 0.77
$1.58COP 4,913
26.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.34OMR 0.90
$2.15COP 6,671
8.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.27OMR 0.49
$2.30COP 7,129
-44.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19OMR 0.46
$2.00COP 6,213
-40.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.24OMR 0.48
$1.51COP 4,679
-17.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.86OMR 0.71
$1.20COP 3,727
55.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63OMR 0.24
$1.28COP 3,974
-50.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54OMR 2.52
$3.84COP 11.9K
70.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.36OMR 5.92
$14.01COP 43.4K
9.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.69OMR 2.19
$1.71COP 5,294
232.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.81OMR 3.39
$2.74COP 8,500
221.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Shinas
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.25COP 3,861
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.9COP 241.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.33OMR 1.28
$1.31COP 4,045
154.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.66OMR 1.02
$2.17COP 6,728
22.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.88OMR 3.03
$8.29COP 25.7K
-4.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60OMR 0.23
$1.36COP 4,202
-55.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KOMR 9,699
$27.5KCOP 85.2M
-8.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3KOMR 8,594
$36.5KCOP 113.2M
-38.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shinas
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169OMR 65.1
$169COP 523.0K
0.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.37OMR 12.08
$13.57COP 42.1K
131.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.5OMR 27.14
$28.32COP 87.8K
148.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shinas
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$45.71COP 141.7K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22COP 53.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.22OMR 3.93
$6.65COP 20.6K
53.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shinas
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$286OMR 110
$803COP 2.5M
-64.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KOMR 4,050
$9,190COP 28.5M
14.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shinas
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0OMR 21.95
$87.4COP 270.8K
-34.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.68OMR 16.82
$59.4COP 184.0K
-26.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.1OMR 35.44
$139COP 430.5K
-33.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.0OMR 37.34
$102COP 316.3K
-4.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shinas
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,071COP 3.3M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$653COP 2.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,925COP 6.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,048COP 3.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,123COP 12.8M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,697COP 5.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shinas
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,067OMR 1,181
$655COP 2.0M
368.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.25
10.94
-52.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shinas: September 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 368% higher in Shinas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Shinas versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $300 – making Shinas 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
Shinas vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Shinas?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 74%, 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 $1,417 per month in Shinas and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Shinas or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Shinas and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Shinas and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 6% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Shinas or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shinas, where all-in costs run around $945, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Shinas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Shinas or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Shinas – 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 Shinas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.