Cost of Living Comparison Between Jackson, MS and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Jackson, MS and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,437 per month in Jackson, MS vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,541 per month in Jackson, MS vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,644 per month in Jackson, MS vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Jackson, MS costs about 45% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Jackson, MS and Medellin sit above the global median – Jackson, MS by 78%, Medellin by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.44 $17.44

$8.02 COP 25.3K

117.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.4 $59.4

$47.87 COP 151.0K

24.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.24 $9.24

$9.89 COP 31.2K

-6.57%

Cappuccino

$4.33 $4.33

$3.13 COP 9,873

38.34%

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

$1.65 $1.65

$1.91 COP 6,019

-13.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.51 COP 4,763

9.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.89 $3.89

$3.12 COP 9,853

24.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.93 $3.93

$5.75 COP 18.1K

-31.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.44 COP 4,558

-30.56%

White Bread (500g)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.49 COP 7,843

21.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.97 $3.97

$1.77 COP 5,595

124.29%

Eggs

$3.84 $3.84

$2.96 COP 9,336

29.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 $8.21

$10.07 COP 31.8K

-18.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.49 $13.49

$10.12 COP 31.9K

33.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.83 $6.83

$14.30 COP 45.1K

-52.24%

Apples (1kg)

$5.58 $5.58

$4.14 COP 13.0K

34.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.61 COP 5,073

-31.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.25 COP 7,083

-34.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$2.25 COP 7,104

123.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.17 $3.17

$2.04 COP 6,444

55.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.54 COP 4,842

27.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.17 COP 3,691

29.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.31 COP 4,121

96.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.12 $8.12

$3.90 COP 12.3K

108.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.74 $12.74

$14.01 COP 44.2K

-9.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.74 COP 5,498

-2.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$2.87 COP 9,053

-43.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.04 $4.04

$1.22 COP 3,834

231.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$126 $126

$80.5 COP 253.9K

56.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.31 COP 4,129

49.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$2.19 COP 6,899

-37.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.95 $18.95

$8.71 COP 27.5K

117.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 $0.92

$1.37 COP 4,306

-32.85%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$27.8K COP 87.8M

29.33%

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

$27.4K $27.4K

$35.8K COP 112.8M

-23.54%

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

$187 $187

$177 COP 559.3K

5.36%

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

$69.4 $69.4

$13.88 COP 43.8K

400.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 $72.9

$29.72 COP 93.8K

145.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.9 $64.9

$44.88 COP 141.6K

44.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.72 $15.72

$17.12 COP 54.0K

-8.18%

Cinema Ticket

$13.26 $13.26

$6.65 COP 21.0K

99.40%

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

$601 $601

$813 COP 2.6M

-26.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K $25.0K

$9,187 COP 29.0M

172.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.77 $46.77

$89.5 COP 282.3K

-47.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.73 $22.73

$59.0 COP 186.0K

-61.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 $80.7

$138 COP 435.9K

-41.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$102 COP 322.1K

11.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$972 $972

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-8.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,164 $1,164

$663 COP 2.1M

75.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,254 $2,254

$1,888 COP 6.0M

19.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,898 $1,898

$1,027 COP 3.2M

84.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,541 $1,541

$4,183 COP 13.2M

-63.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,585 $1,585

$1,675 COP 5.3M

-5.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,741 $2,741

$678 COP 2.1M

304.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.11

10.94

-44.15%

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

Last update for Jackson, MS: September 15, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $972 in Jackson, MS versus $1,062 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 304% higher in Jackson, MS, 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 $59.0 in Jackson, MS versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $337 vs $305 – 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

Jackson, MS vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jackson, MS costs about 45% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,656 per month in Jackson, MS and $2,521 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.

Kindergarten costs $601 per month in Jackson, MS and $813 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Jackson, MS, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Jackson, MS at $2,437. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jackson, MS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,681 versus $2,437 in Jackson, MS. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

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