Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Frederiksted Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Frederiksted

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $357 in Frederiksted, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $743 in Frederiksted, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,129 in Frederiksted, rent included.

Medellin costs about 185% more than Frederiksted, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Frederiksted are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Frederiksted 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 21.2K

$30.13 $30.13

-80.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 118.9K

$80.7 $80.7

-58.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.8K

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,811

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

$1.09 COP 3,904

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,604

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,197

$7.05 $7.05

-75.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.5K

$7.86 $7.86

-58.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,742

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,614

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,718

Eggs

$2.27 COP 8,101

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.5K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 21.0K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.7K

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 8,015

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,814

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,438

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 5,073

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,173

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,166

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,163

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,215

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 8,008

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 39.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 4,063

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,483

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,979

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 149.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 5,019

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,779

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,586

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

$17.6K COP 62.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.5M

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

$83.7 COP 298.4K

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

$9.45 COP 33.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 86.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 90.3K

$61.1 $61.1

-58.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 68.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.6K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 207.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 116.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 355.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 387.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$1,357 $1,357

-64.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 10.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Frederiksted: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $1,357 in Frederiksted. 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $81.0 in Frederiksted. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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

Medellin vs Frederiksted: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 185%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $535 in Frederiksted. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Frederiksted, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $357 in Frederiksted. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $81.0 in Frederiksted. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Frederiksted, where all-in costs run around $357, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Frederiksted it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Frederiksted – 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 Frederiksted. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.