😐A single person spends $1,990 per month in Sunshine Coast vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,013 per month in Sunshine Coast vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,036 per month in Sunshine Coast vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Sunshine Coast costs about 93% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Sunshine Coast sits 49% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sunshine Coast
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.37A$20.59
$6.16COP 20.1K
133.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.7A$94.1
$32.60COP 106.1K
101.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.06A$12.98
$7.34COP 23.9K
23.43%
Cappuccino
$3.41A$4.89
$1.72COP 5,600
98.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15A$3.08
$1.05COP 3,420
104.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31A$3.31
$0.77COP 2,515
200.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.64A$9.51
$1.69COP 5,488
292.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.00A$10.03
$3.17COP 10.3K
120.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sunshine Coast
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27A$1.82
$1.05COP 3,423
20.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.86A$2.67
$1.30COP 4,236
43.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82A$2.60
$1.40COP 4,544
30.00%
Eggs
$4.29A$6.14
$2.16COP 7,047
98.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.29A$10.44
$4.39COP 14.3K
66.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92A$12.77
$5.88COP 19.1K
51.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.21A$17.50
$8.64COP 28.1K
41.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76A$3.96
$2.28COP 7,426
21.05%
Banana(1kg)
$2.30A$3.30
$1.11COP 3,604
107.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.59A$5.14
$1.53COP 4,983
134.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.89A$5.57
$1.35COP 4,410
188.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.95A$2.80
$1.13COP 3,674
72.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77A$2.53
$1.13COP 3,692
56.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.01A$2.88
$0.85COP 2,753
136.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74A$2.49
$0.91COP 2,975
91.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.49A$33.66
$2.34COP 7,630
903.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.12A$24.53
$12.37COP 40.3K
38.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.01A$7.18
$1.20COP 3,909
317.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.51A$7.89
$2.49COP 8,104
121.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Sunshine Coast
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38A$1.98
$0.84COP 2,728
64.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.86A$52.8
$40.57COP 132.1K
-9.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.96A$2.81
$1.42COP 4,623
38.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.41A$2.02
$1.92COP 6,235
-26.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.09A$48.85
$7.66COP 24.9K
345.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16A$1.67
$0.99COP 3,223
17.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4KA$42.1K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
63.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7KA$31.0K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-18.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sunshine Coast
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$129A$185
$80.8COP 263.1K
59.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.57A$40.94
$9.95COP 32.4K
187.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.44A$62.2
$24.18COP 78.7K
79.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sunshine Coast
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.94A$70.1
$25.08COP 81.7K
95.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.35A$22.00
$19.15COP 62.3K
-19.84%
Cinema Ticket
$13.23A$18.96
$3.98COP 13.0K
232.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sunshine Coast
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$287A$411
$305COP 993.5K
-5.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,245A$10.4K
$6,059COP 19.7M
19.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sunshine Coast
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.3A$87.9
$58.1COP 189.2K
5.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.41A$67.9
$32.20COP 104.8K
47.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6A$127
$101COP 327.9K
-12.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.6A$136
$108COP 350.8K
-12.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sunshine Coast
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,105A$1,583
$477COP 1.6M
131.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$923A$1,322
$376COP 1.2M
145.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,783A$2,555
$845COP 2.7M
111.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,607A$2,303
$730COP 2.4M
120.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,551A$7,953
$3,215COP 10.5M
72.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,028A$7,203
$1,372COP 4.5M
266.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sunshine Coast
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,419A$4,898
$617COP 2.0M
454.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.25
13.43
-53.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sunshine Coast: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,105 in Sunshine Coast 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 454% higher in Sunshine Coast, 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 $66.0 in Sunshine Coast versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $329 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
Sunshine Coast vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sunshine Coast?
Yes – Sunshine Coast is pricier by about 93%, 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 $2,985 per month in Sunshine Coast 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 Sunshine Coast or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Sunshine Coast 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 Sunshine Coast and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,990 in Sunshine Coast 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 Sunshine Coast or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Sunshine Coast at $1,990. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sunshine Coast it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sunshine Coast 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, Sunshine Coast 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, Sunshine Coast makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Sunshine Coast vs other spots: cost of living compared