🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,218 in Jekabpils versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,809 in Jekabpils versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,401 in Jekabpils versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Jekabpils costs roughly 28% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Jekabpils is 11% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jekabpils
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.92€11.26
$8.02COP 25.3K
61.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50€28.32
$47.87COP 151.0K
-32.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.81€8.55
$9.89COP 31.2K
-0.81%
Cappuccino
$3.55€3.09
$3.13COP 9,873
13.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02€0.89
$1.91COP 6,019
-46.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99€0.86
$1.51COP 4,763
-34.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.91€5.15
$3.12COP 9,853
89.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57€3.98
$5.75COP 18.1K
-20.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jekabpils
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11€0.97
$1.44COP 4,558
-22.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51€1.32
$2.49COP 7,843
-39.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.58€2.25
$1.77COP 5,595
45.76%
Eggs
$2.36€2.06
$2.96COP 9,336
-20.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.90€9.50
$10.07COP 31.8K
8.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.02€6.12
$10.12COP 31.9K
-30.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.41€12.55
$14.30COP 45.1K
0.77%
Apples(1kg)
$1.63€1.42
$4.14COP 13.0K
-60.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.61COP 5,073
6.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.71
$2.25COP 7,083
-12.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.14€2.73
$2.25COP 7,104
39.56%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94€0.82
$2.04COP 6,444
-53.92%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96€0.84
$1.54COP 4,842
-37.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.77€1.54
$1.17COP 3,691
51.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.74
$1.31COP 4,121
-35.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85€5.10
$3.90COP 12.3K
50.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.94€6.05
$14.01COP 44.2K
-50.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49€1.30
$1.74COP 5,498
-14.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70€1.48
$2.87COP 9,053
-40.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Jekabpils
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.13€0.98
$1.22COP 3,834
-7.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.7€60.7
$80.5COP 253.9K
-13.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.03€0.89
$1.31COP 4,129
-21.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42€0.36
$2.19COP 6,899
-80.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.31€15.95
$8.71COP 27.5K
110.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.78€1.55
$1.37COP 4,306
29.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K€24.6K
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
1.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K€27.7K
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
-11.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jekabpils
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$277€242
$177COP 559.3K
56.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33€9.87
$13.88COP 43.8K
-18.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.80€14.64
$29.72COP 93.8K
-43.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jekabpils
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.02€29.64
$44.88COP 141.6K
-24.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.60€11.84
$17.12COP 54.0K
-20.56%
Cinema Ticket
$11.13€9.70
$6.65COP 21.0K
67.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jekabpils
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$633€551
$813COP 2.6M
-22.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,104€7,060
$9,187COP 29.0M
-11.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jekabpils
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.8€63.4
$89.5COP 282.3K
-18.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.34€25.56
$59.0COP 186.0K
-50.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.4€77.0
$138COP 435.9K
-36.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$142€124
$102COP 322.1K
39.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jekabpils
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$233€203
$1,062COP 3.3M
-78.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173€151
$663COP 2.1M
-73.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$408€356
$1,888COP 6.0M
-78.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$346€302
$1,027COP 3.2M
-66.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$855€745
$4,183COP 13.2M
-79.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$827€721
$1,675COP 5.3M
-50.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jekabpils
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,020€888
$678COP 2.1M
50.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.64
10.94
-57.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jekabpils: September 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $233 in Jekabpils and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jekabpils pays 50% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Jekabpils vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $305 per month, with Jekabpils cheaper across the board.
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
Jekabpils vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Jekabpils and in Medellin?
Jekabpils and Medellin differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($1,218 vs $1,681 including rent). Jekabpils is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Jekabpils or Medellin?
Average pay runs 50% higher in Jekabpils, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Jekabpils and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $233 in Jekabpils versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Jekabpils or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,218 per month in Jekabpils versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Jekabpils and in Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Jekabpils runs roughly 15% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,218 in Jekabpils versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Jekabpils but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Jekabpils the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Jekabpils and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Jekabpils or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Jekabpils and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Jekabpils or Medellin?
Expats usually find Jekabpils gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.