Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Juneau, AK and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $3,150 in Juneau, AK, rent and utilities included – about $18,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Juneau, AK, United States
Medellin, Colombia
Juneau, AK
🇺🇸 United States
$3,150
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Juneau, AK and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Juneau, AK and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,150 in Juneau, AK versus $1,639 in Medellin.

  • Juneau, AK $3,150
  • Medellin $1,639

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,821 in Juneau, AK versus $2,413 in Medellin.

  • Juneau, AK $4,821
  • Medellin $2,413

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,492 in Juneau, AK versus $3,186 in Medellin.

  • Juneau, AK $6,492
  • Medellin $3,186

Living in Juneau, AK is roughly 92% more expensive than in Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Juneau, AK 131% above, Medellin 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.63 $16.63
$8.09 COP 25.6K
105.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.6 $88.6
$47.05 COP 148.9K
88.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.93 $15.93
$9.50 COP 30.1K
67.68%
Cappuccino
$6.81 $6.81
$3.01 COP 9,540
126.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.80 COP 5,693
54.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.41 COP 4,469
55.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.95 $6.95
$3.18 COP 10.0K
118.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.13 $7.13
$5.75 COP 18.2K
24.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.51 COP 4,778
-3.97%
White Bread (500g)
$7.63 $7.63
$2.38 COP 7,524
220.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.81 $4.81
$1.77 COP 5,606
171.75%
Eggs
$5.49 $5.49
$2.89 COP 9,146
89.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.45 $22.45
$10.19 COP 32.2K
120.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.38 $15.38
$9.87 COP 31.2K
55.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.72 $18.72
$13.99 COP 44.3K
33.81%
Apples (1kg)
$6.62 $6.62
$3.97 COP 12.6K
66.75%
Banana (1kg)
$3.70 $3.70
$1.55 COP 4,911
138.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.81 $4.81
$2.18 COP 6,907
120.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.68 $5.68
$2.18 COP 6,910
160.55%
Potato (1kg)
$3.03 $3.03
$1.96 COP 6,210
54.59%
Onion (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$1.59 COP 5,029
176.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.81 $2.81
$1.15 COP 3,625
144.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$1.24 COP 3,934
112.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.78 $14.78
$3.96 COP 12.5K
273.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.11 $17.11
$13.68 COP 43.3K
25.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.66 COP 5,252
55.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 $3.24
$2.26 COP 7,145
43.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.17 COP 3,696
76.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.77 $39.77
$77.4 COP 244.8K
-48.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.27 COP 4,013
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.05 COP 6,480
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.55 COP 27.1K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.35 COP 4,262
-10.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K $23.8K
$34.1K COP 107.8M
-30.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6K $32.6K
$34.7K COP 109.7M
-5.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$380 $380
$170 COP 536.8K
124.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$75.3 $75.3
$13.55 COP 42.9K
455.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$110 $110
$28.07 COP 88.8K
291.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$132 $132
$43.70 COP 138.3K
201.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.19 COP 54.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.75 $14.75
$6.91 COP 21.9K
113.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,586 $1,586
$797 COP 2.5M
99.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$9,112 COP 28.8M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 $60.0
$84.7 COP 268.1K
-29.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.62 $45.62
$58.0 COP 183.4K
-21.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.0 $86.0
$135 COP 427.1K
-36.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$97.9 COP 309.7K
51.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,644 $1,644
$1,208 COP 3.8M
36.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 $1,341
$642 COP 2.0M
109.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,029 $3,029
$2,028 COP 6.4M
49.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,724 $2,724
$1,012 COP 3.2M
169.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,481 $3,481
$4,170 COP 13.2M
-16.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,529 $3,529
$1,910 COP 6.0M
84.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Juneau, AK
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,023 $4,023
$657 COP 2.1M
512.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.56
10.94
-40.04%

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

Last update for Juneau, AK: October 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Juneau, AK
$1.3K
Medellin
$642 52.2% $700
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Juneau, AK
$566
Medellin
$211 62.6% $354
Groceries & Markets
Juneau, AK
$550
Medellin
$297 46% $253
Eating Out
Juneau, AK
$331
Medellin
$170 48.8% $162
Sport & Entertainment
Juneau, AK
$161
Medellin
$58 64.3% $104
Clothing & Footwear
Juneau, AK
$153
Medellin
$169 10.5% $16
Getting Around
Juneau, AK
$48 *
Medellin
$94 94.9% $46

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,644 in Juneau, AK and $1,208 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Juneau, AK pays about 6.1 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $89 in Juneau, AK vs $47 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $550 vs $297 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Juneau, AK
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
20:03 8:03 PM
23:03 11:03 PM
3 h ahead of Juneau, AK
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
31,000
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3,164 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,523 COP (10,000 COP = 2.84 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Juneau, AK Medellin 7,640 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Juneau, AK
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 48% 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 in Medellin?
Average pay in Juneau, AK is about 6.1 times higher, 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 compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,644 in Juneau, AK versus $1,208 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 $3,150 per month in Juneau, AK versus $1,639 in Medellin – Medellin is about 48% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Juneau, AK compared to Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Juneau, AK runs roughly 49% less than in Medellin. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Juneau, AK or in Medellin?
At $1,639 in Medellin versus $3,150 in Juneau, AK, a $2,500 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 offers a better quality of life: Juneau, AK or 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.
Should I move to Juneau, AK or to Medellin?
It comes down to priorities – Medellin wins on affordability, Juneau, AK on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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