Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Thompson and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $1,806 in Thompson, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. The total is higher in Thompson despite lower rent and utilities.

Thompson, Canada
Medellin, Colombia
Thompson
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,806
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Thompson and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Thompson and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,806 per month in Thompson vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Thompson $1,806
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $2,737 per month in Thompson vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Thompson $2,737
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $3,669 per month in Thompson vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Thompson $3,669
  • Medellin $3,186

Thompson costs about 10% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Thompson and Medellin sit above the global median – Thompson by 33%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Thompson
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.00 CA$25.18
$8.09 COP 25.6K
122.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.4 CA$90.1
$47.05 COP 148.9K
36.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.52 CA$14.71
$9.50 COP 30.1K
10.74%
Cappuccino
$3.72 CA$5.20
$3.01 COP 9,540
23.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 CA$2.76
$1.80 COP 5,693
9.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 CA$2.24
$1.41 COP 4,469
13.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.16 CA$7.22
$3.18 COP 10.0K
62.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 CA$8.04
$5.75 COP 18.2K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Thompson
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.09 CA$2.93
$1.51 COP 4,778
38.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.56 CA$3.58
$2.38 COP 7,524
7.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.51 CA$4.91
$1.77 COP 5,606
98.31%
Eggs
$3.49 CA$4.88
$2.89 COP 9,146
20.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.29 CA$14.40
$10.19 COP 32.2K
0.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.63 CA$16.27
$9.87 COP 31.2K
17.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.89 CA$20.82
$13.99 COP 44.3K
6.43%
Apples (1kg)
$3.93 CA$5.50
$3.97 COP 12.6K
-1.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 CA$1.91
$1.55 COP 4,911
-11.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.98 CA$5.56
$2.18 COP 6,907
82.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.82 CA$5.34
$2.18 COP 6,910
75.23%
Potato (1kg)
$2.35 CA$3.29
$1.96 COP 6,210
19.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 CA$3.09
$1.59 COP 5,029
38.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.49 CA$3.48
$1.15 COP 3,625
116.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 CA$2.32
$1.24 COP 3,934
33.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.00 CA$19.58
$3.96 COP 12.5K
253.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.62 CA$17.65
$13.68 COP 43.3K
-7.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.83 CA$3.96
$1.66 COP 5,252
70.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 CA$4.44
$2.26 COP 7,145
40.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Thompson
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.30 CA$3.22
$1.17 COP 3,696
96.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.9 CA$93.5
$77.4 COP 244.8K
-13.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 CA$4.21
$1.27 COP 4,013
137.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 CA$1.93
$2.05 COP 6,480
-32.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.88 CA$33.39
$8.55 COP 27.1K
179.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 CA$1.54
$1.35 COP 4,262
-18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$39.4K
$34.1K COP 107.8M
-17.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K CA$33.0K
$34.7K COP 109.7M
-31.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thompson
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 CA$191
$170 COP 536.8K
-19.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.10 CA$54.7
$13.55 COP 42.9K
188.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.9 CA$76.8
$28.07 COP 88.8K
95.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Thompson
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.46 CA$52.4
$43.70 COP 138.3K
-14.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.81 CA$24.91
$17.19 COP 54.4K
3.61%
Cinema Ticket
$10.46 CA$14.63
$6.91 COP 21.9K
51.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Thompson
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$664 CA$928
$797 COP 2.5M
-16.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K CA$16.0K
$9,112 COP 28.8M
25.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Thompson
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4 CA$76.1
$84.7 COP 268.1K
-35.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.02 CA$54.6
$58.0 COP 183.4K
-32.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.4 CA$122
$135 COP 427.1K
-35.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 CA$144
$97.9 COP 309.7K
4.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Thompson
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 CA$961
$1,208 COP 3.8M
-43.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 CA$942
$642 COP 2.0M
5.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,109 CA$1,551
$2,028 COP 6.4M
-45.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 CA$1,558
$1,012 COP 3.2M
10.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,361 CA$6,100
$4,170 COP 13.2M
4.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,358 CA$4,697
$1,910 COP 6.0M
75.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Thompson
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,567 CA$2,192
$657 COP 2.1M
138.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.68
10.94
-57.22%

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

Last update for Thompson: October 24, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Thompson
$674
Medellin
$642 4.8% $32
Groceries & Markets
Thompson
$358
Medellin
$297 17.1% $61
Eating Out
Thompson
$272
Medellin
$170 37.6% $102
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Thompson
$230
Medellin
$211 8.3% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Thompson
$128
Medellin
$169 32.5% $41
Getting Around
Thompson
$86
Medellin
$94 8.8% $7.5
Sport & Entertainment
Thompson
$58
Medellin
$58 1.4% $0.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $687 in Thompson versus $1,208 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 in Thompson are about 2.4 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $64 in Thompson versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $358 vs $297 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Thompson
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
08:04 8:04 AM
08:04 8:04 AM
Same time as Thompson
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,829
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.715 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.641 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3,164 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,531 COP (10,000 COP = 2.83 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Thompson Medellin 5,840 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Thompson
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Thompson vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Thompson?
Yes – Thompson is pricier by about 10%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,709 per month in Thompson and $2,459 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 Thompson, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $687 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Thompson or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $64 in Thompson and $47 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 Thompson and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,806 in Thompson and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Medellin about 9% cheaper.
Is $2,500 enough for either Thompson or Medellin?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,806 in Thompson and $1,639 in Medellin, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Thompson or in Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,639 in Medellin to $1,806 in Thompson. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Thompson makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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