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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,273 per month in Jamestown vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,749 per month in Jamestown vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,226 per month in Jamestown vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Jamestown costs about 25% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Jamestown and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Jamestown 5% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.06 SHP 11.97

$5.95 COP 20.8K

169.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.42 SHP 36.07

$33.33 COP 116.3K

45.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.07 SHP 6.76

$7.23 COP 25.2K

25.45%

Cappuccino

$2.98 SHP 2.22

$1.63 COP 5,687

82.82%

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

$1.19 SHP 0.89

$1.09 COP 3,821

9.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 SHP 0.88

$0.73 COP 2,548

61.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.87 SHP 3.63

$1.74 COP 6,065

179.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 SHP 1.93

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-19.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 SHP 1.41

$1.05 COP 3,662

80.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.67 SHP 1.24

$1.29 COP 4,515

29.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 SHP 1.04

$1.32 COP 4,617

5.30%

Eggs

$4.39 SHP 3.27

$2.27 COP 7,927

93.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.35 SHP 6.22

$4.35 COP 15.2K

91.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.95 SHP 8.15

$5.88 COP 20.5K

86.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 SHP 8.14

$8.61 COP 30.0K

26.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.64 SHP 1.97

$0.89 COP 3,096

196.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 SHP 1.62

$0.90 COP 3,146

141.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.74 SHP 8.00

$2.25 COP 7,837

377.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.12 SHP 30.63

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-1.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 SHP 1.99

$1.41 COP 4,912

89.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$108 SHP 80.7

$24.11 COP 84.1K

349.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$6.90 SHP 5.14

$25.31 COP 88.3K

-72.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.97 SHP 30.52

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-29.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.20 SHP 15.05

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-37.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.90 SHP 34.94

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-52.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$689 SHP 513

$482 COP 1.7M

42.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 SHP 450

$379 COP 1.3M

59.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 SHP 541

$837 COP 2.9M

-13.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$706 SHP 526

$723 COP 2.5M

-2.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $689 in Jamestown versus $482 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: $208 vs $190 – 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 25%, 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 $1,910 per month in Jamestown and $1,525 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 2% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 10% 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 $1,017, than in Jamestown at $1,273. 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.