Cost of Living Comparison Between Juneau, AK and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Juneau, AK and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,112 in Juneau, AK versus $1,013 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,671 in Juneau, AK versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,230 in Juneau, AK versus $2,192 in Medellin.

Living in Juneau, AK is roughly 207% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Juneau, AK is 132% above, Medellin is 24% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.81 $14.81
$5.99 COPΒ 21.4K
147.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.0 $66.0
$32.86 COPΒ 117.2K
100.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.74 $8.74
$7.09 COPΒ 25.3K
23.27%
Cappuccino
$5.30 $5.30
$1.71 COPΒ 6,105
209.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.10 COPΒ 3,918
120.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$0.78 COPΒ 2,776
146.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.87 $6.87
$1.68 COPΒ 5,987
308.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82 $6.82
$3.07 COPΒ 10.9K
122.15%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 $1.38
$1.09 COPΒ 3,899
26.61%
White Bread (500g)
$5.63 $5.63
$1.26 COPΒ 4,500
346.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.78 $6.78
$1.38 COPΒ 4,914
391.30%
Eggs
$6.41 $6.41
$2.19 COPΒ 7,813
192.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.94 $17.94
$4.40 COPΒ 15.7K
307.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$22.17 $22.17
$5.63 COPΒ 20.1K
293.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$26.66 $26.66
$8.89 COPΒ 31.7K
199.89%
Apples (1kg)
$6.82 $6.82
$2.34 COPΒ 8,334
191.45%
Banana (1kg)
$3.56 $3.56
$1.06 COPΒ 3,771
235.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$1.50 COPΒ 5,365
206.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.77 $6.77
$1.38 COPΒ 4,915
390.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.15 COPΒ 4,104
126.96%
Onion (1kg)
$3.40 $3.40
$1.16 COPΒ 4,148
193.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.62 $2.62
$0.89 COPΒ 3,176
194.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.05 $3.05
$0.84 COPΒ 2,992
263.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.77 $14.77
$2.28 COPΒ 8,131
547.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.27 $14.27
$10.64 COPΒ 37.9K
34.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$1.20 COPΒ 4,276
116.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 $4.06
$2.47 COPΒ 8,809
64.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.86 COPΒ 3,051
138.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.27 $39.27
$41.40 COPΒ 147.6K
-5.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.48 $3.48
$1.47 COPΒ 5,255
136.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.96 COPΒ 6,997
-18.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.11 $29.11
$7.74 COPΒ 27.6K
276.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$0.95 COPΒ 3,403
10.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$18.1K COPΒ 64.6M
64.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K $35.7K
$26.5K COPΒ 94.4M
34.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$284 $284
$82.3 COPΒ 293.2K
245.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$77.1 $77.1
$9.50 COPΒ 33.9K
711.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$136 $136
$24.23 COPΒ 86.4K
462.73%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$121 $121
$25.89 COPΒ 92.3K
368.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00 COPΒ 67.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.75 $12.75
$3.93 COPΒ 14.0K
224.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$897 $897
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
189.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K $23.6K
$5,965 COPΒ 21.3M
295.58%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.9 $68.9
$58.7 COPΒ 209.1K
17.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.8 $64.8
$32.35 COPΒ 115.3K
100.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 $91.6
$103 COPΒ 365.7K
-10.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$202 $202
$108 COPΒ 386.5K
86.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,988 $1,988
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
317.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,365 $1,365
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
260.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,031 $3,031
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
261.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,659 $2,659
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
267.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,400 $3,400
$2,791 COPΒ 9.9M
21.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,371 $3,371
$1,211 COPΒ 4.3M
178.29%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,086 $4,086
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
698.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
13.43
-51.08%

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

Last update for Juneau, AK: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,988 in Juneau, AK and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Juneau, AK pays 698% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $66.0 in Juneau, AK vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $587 vs $188 per month, with Medellin 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
Juneau, AK vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Juneau, AK or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 207% lower than in Juneau, AK. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Juneau, AK or Medellin?
Juneau, AK pays 698% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Juneau, AK vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,988 in Juneau, AK versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Juneau, AK compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $3,112 per month in Juneau, AK versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 207% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Juneau, AK vs Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 5% less than in Juneau, AK. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Juneau, AK or Medellin?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $3,112 in Juneau, AK, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Juneau, AK. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Juneau, AK or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,013 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Juneau, AK compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Juneau, AK 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 207% less than in Juneau, AK. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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