Cost of Living Comparison Between Jamestown and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Jamestown and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,240 per month in Jamestown vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,748 per month in Jamestown vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,255 per month in Jamestown vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Jamestown costs about 24% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Jamestown and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Jamestown 7% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.09 SHP 11.92

$5.91 COP 18.6K

172.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.49 SHP 35.92

$32.96 COP 103.8K

47.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.64 SHP 6.40

$7.43 COP 23.4K

16.29%

Cappuccino

$3.11 SHP 2.31

$1.65 COP 5,207

88.48%

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

$1.19 SHP 0.88

$1.10 COP 3,468

8.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 SHP 0.89

$0.78 COP 2,458

55.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.82 SHP 3.57

$1.72 COP 5,412

180.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 SHP 2.00

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-15.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 SHP 1.35

$1.10 COP 3,474

65.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.59 SHP 1.18

$1.26 COP 3,962

26.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 SHP 1.02

$1.38 COP 4,349

-0.72%

Eggs

$4.32 SHP 3.20

$2.18 COP 6,858

98.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.08 SHP 5.99

$4.49 COP 14.1K

79.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.80 SHP 8.00

$5.79 COP 18.2K

86.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 SHP 8.05

$8.97 COP 28.2K

21.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.68 SHP 1.99

$0.90 COP 2,838

197.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 SHP 1.64

$0.90 COP 2,823

146.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.00 SHP 8.15

$2.23 COP 7,034

393.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.32 SHP 30.61

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-0.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.80 SHP 2.07

$1.42 COP 4,459

97.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$108 SHP 79.7

$23.52 COP 74.1K

357.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.88 SHP 5.10

$25.26 COP 79.5K

-72.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

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

$316 COP 994.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.10 SHP 29.70

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-33.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.11 SHP 14.90

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-36.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.20 SHP 34.97

$102 COP 320.1K

-53.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$673 SHP 499

$475 COP 1.5M

41.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$617 SHP 457

$374 COP 1.2M

65.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$705 SHP 522

$849 COP 2.7M

-16.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 SHP 530

$719 COP 2.3M

-0.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.2

13.43

-53.83%

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

Last update for Jamestown: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $673 in Jamestown versus $475 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Jamestown versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $193 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Jamestown vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Jamestown is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,860 per month in Jamestown and $1,504 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.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Jamestown, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Jamestown at $1,240. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jamestown 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.

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, Jamestown makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.