Cost of Living Comparison Between White Rock, BC and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between White Rock, BC and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,728 per month in White Rock, BC vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,919 per month in White Rock, BC vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,111 per month in White Rock, BC vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

White Rock, BC costs about 169% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

White Rock, BC sits 104% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.52 CA$22.88

$5.99 COP 21.4K

175.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.6 CA$100

$32.86 COP 117.4K

120.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.30 CA$12.88

$7.09 COP 25.3K

31.17%

Cappuccino

$3.86 CA$5.34

$1.71 COP 6,115

125.73%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.09

$1.10 COP 3,924

37.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 CA$2.09

$0.78 COP 2,781

93.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.55 CA$6.30

$1.68 COP 5,997

170.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 CA$7.91

$3.07 COP 11.0K

85.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 CA$1.57

$1.09 COP 3,906

4.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 CA$3.82

$1.26 COP 4,508

119.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.00 CA$4.15

$1.38 COP 4,922

117.39%

Eggs

$3.63 CA$5.02

$2.19 COP 7,827

65.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.15 CA$18.21

$4.40 COP 15.7K

198.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.91 CA$20.65

$5.63 COP 20.1K

164.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.61 CA$21.62

$8.89 COP 31.8K

75.59%

Apples (1kg)

$4.56 CA$6.32

$2.34 COP 8,349

94.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 CA$2.31

$1.06 COP 3,777

57.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 CA$5.98

$1.50 COP 5,374

188.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.82 CA$6.67

$1.38 COP 4,924

249.28%

Potato (1kg)

$3.88 CA$5.37

$1.15 COP 4,111

237.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.18 CA$4.41

$1.16 COP 4,155

174.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 CA$3.78

$0.89 COP 3,182

206.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 CA$3.02

$0.84 COP 2,997

159.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.70 CA$21.74

$2.28 COP 8,145

588.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.58 CA$22.95

$10.64 COP 38.0K

55.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.77 CA$5.21

$1.20 COP 4,284

214.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.41 CA$6.11

$2.47 COP 8,824

78.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.18 CA$3.03

$0.86 COP 3,056

153.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$109 CA$151

$41.40 COP 147.9K

162.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 CA$3.84

$1.47 COP 5,264

88.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 CA$1.93

$1.96 COP 7,009

-29.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.79 CA$20.48

$7.74 COP 27.6K

91.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 CA$1.84

$0.95 COP 3,409

40.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.1K CA$34.8K

$18.1K COP 64.7M

38.46%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.3K CA$29.4K

$26.5K COP 94.6M

-19.72%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.8 CA$110

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-3.04%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$54.9 CA$75.9

$9.50 COP 33.9K

477.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.7 CA$99.3

$24.23 COP 86.5K

195.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.5 CA$99.0

$25.89 COP 92.4K

176.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$11.65 CA$16.14

$3.93 COP 14.0K

196.44%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$637 CA$882

$309 COP 1.1M

105.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K CA$19.5K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

136.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 CA$81.6

$58.7 COP 209.5K

0.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.52 CA$57.5

$32.35 COP 115.5K

28.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.3 CA$129

$103 COP 366.4K

-9.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.1 CA$128

$108 COP 387.2K

-15.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,813 CA$2,511

$476 COP 1.7M

280.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,540 CA$2,132

$379 COP 1.4M

306.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,780 CA$3,849

$838 COP 3.0M

231.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,313 CA$3,203

$724 COP 2.6M

219.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,480 CA$6,203

$2,791 COP 10.0M

60.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,882 CA$5,375

$1,211 COP 4.3M

220.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,434 CA$4,754

$512 COP 1.8M

570.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-62.77%

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

Last update for White Rock, BC: May 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,813 in White Rock, BC 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 571% higher in White Rock, BC, 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 $73.0 in White Rock, BC versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 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

White Rock, BC vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – White Rock, BC is pricier by about 169%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,092 per month in White Rock, BC and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $73.0 in White Rock, BC and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,728 in White Rock, BC and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in White Rock, BC at $2,728. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in White Rock, BC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, White Rock, BC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.