Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and El Cajon, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and El Cajon, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 50.4% cheaper than El Cajon, CA without rent, and 69.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 54.2% cheaper than El Cajon, CA without rent, and 69.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$19.68 $19.68
-68.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$79.6 $79.6
-59.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$15.09 $15.09
-51.03%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$5.17 $5.17
-66.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$3.02 $3.02
-63.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$2.55 $2.55
-71.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$7.13 $7.13
-76.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$8.07 $8.07
-60.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.16 $1.16
-6.03%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$4.3 $4.3
-71.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$4.44 $4.44
-70.05%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$3.9 $3.9
-43.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$13.55 $13.55
-66.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$15.95 $15.95
-64.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$15.72 $15.72
-45.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$4.44 $4.44
-49.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.71 $1.71
-37.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$3.91 $3.91
-61.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$4.77 $4.77
-70.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$3.08 $3.08
-63.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$2.37 $2.37
-50.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$2.1 $2.1
-57.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$2.37 $2.37
-64.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$12.06 $12.06
-80.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$15.29 $15.29
-38.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.81 $1.81
-34.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$2.55 $2.55
-2.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
El Cajon, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$1.93 $1.93
-56.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$2.92 $2.92
-51.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.72 $1.72
13.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$28.43 $28.43
-72.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.25 $1.25
-18.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$25.3K $25.3K
-30.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$27.5K $27.5K
-4.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$155 $155
-46.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$54.9 $54.9
-82.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$71.1 $71.1
-66.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$43.44 $43.44
-40.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$15.29 $15.29
-74.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$1,500 $1,500
-79.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$28.9K $28.9K
-79.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$46.79 $46.79
23.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$33.14 $33.14
-4.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$99.6 $99.6
3.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$101 $101
4.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
El Cajon, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$2,428 $2,428
-79.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$1,939 $1,939
-80.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$2,953 $2,953
-72.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$4,029 $4,029
-81.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$2,755 $2,755
-20.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$2,148 $2,148
-28.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$4,070 $4,070
-86.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.39
110.17%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for El Cajon, CA: October 27, 2025

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