Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jaco Beach Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jaco Beach

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,315 in Jaco Beach.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $2,098 in Jaco Beach.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $2,880 in Jaco Beach.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 23% less than in Jaco Beach, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Jaco Beach 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Jaco Beach
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.5K
$7.30 β‚‘3,348
-17.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 118.1K
$39.91 β‚‘18.3K
-17.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.5K
$8.75 β‚‘4,010
-18.97%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,155
$3.80 β‚‘1,742
-55.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,950
$1.59 β‚‘727
-30.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,799
$0.91 β‚‘419
-14.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 6,037
$2.93 β‚‘1,341
-42.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 11.0K
$2.97 β‚‘1,360
3.37%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Jaco Beach
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,931
$1.46 β‚‘670
-25.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,537
$2.03 β‚‘929
-37.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,955
$2.13 β‚‘978
-35.21%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,878
$2.46 β‚‘1,128
-10.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.8K
$9.81 β‚‘4,498
-55.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.2K
$8.20 β‚‘3,761
-31.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 32.0K
$10.77 β‚‘4,937
-17.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,403
$4.43 β‚‘2,033
-47.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,802
$1.52 β‚‘697
-30.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,409
$4.24 β‚‘1,942
-64.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,956
$3.15 β‚‘1,442
-56.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,138
$1.36 β‚‘622
-15.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,183
$1.29 β‚‘590
-10.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,203
$0.86 β‚‘394
3.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 3,016
$1.77 β‚‘811
-52.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,198
$5.39 β‚‘2,471
-57.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 38.3K
$13.85 β‚‘6,351
-23.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,312
$2.34 β‚‘1,071
-48.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,882
$1.97 β‚‘905
25.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Jaco Beach
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,076
$1.03 β‚‘474
-16.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 148.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,298
$1.79 β‚‘821
-17.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 7,055
$1.84 β‚‘845
6.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.8K
$8.00 β‚‘3,665
-3.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,431
$1.45 β‚‘667
-34.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 65.2M
$38.4K β‚‘17.6M
-52.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 95.2M
$32.6K β‚‘14.9M
-18.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Jaco Beach
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 295.7K
$71.1 β‚‘32.6K
15.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 34.2K
$21.66 β‚‘9,928
-56.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 87.1K
$42.49 β‚‘19.5K
-42.97%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Jaco Beach
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 93.0K
$47.14 β‚‘21.6K
-45.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 68.3K
$23.68 β‚‘10.9K
-19.76%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.1K
$9.73 β‚‘4,460
-59.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Jaco Beach
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$447 β‚‘204.8K
-30.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.4M
$6,633 β‚‘3.0M
-10.07%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Jaco Beach
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 210.8K
$62.2 β‚‘28.5K
-5.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 116.3K
$52.0 β‚‘23.8K
-37.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 368.8K
$125 β‚‘57.4K
-18.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 389.7K
$109 β‚‘49.8K
-0.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Jaco Beach
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$556 β‚‘255.0K
-14.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
$495 β‚‘226.8K
-23.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$1,865 β‚‘854.9K
-55.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$1,044 β‚‘478.6K
-30.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 10.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.4M
-
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Jaco Beach
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
$401 β‚‘184.0K
27.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
10.17
32.06%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jaco Beach: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $556 in Jaco Beach. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 28% 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 Medellin vs $40.00 in Jaco Beach for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $295 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
Medellin vs Jaco Beach: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jaco Beach cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Jaco Beach?
Medellin pays 28% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Jaco Beach?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $556 in Jaco Beach. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $309 in Medellin versus $447 in Jaco Beach. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Jaco Beach?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $40.00 in Jaco Beach. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Jaco Beach?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,315 in Jaco Beach, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Jaco Beach. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Jaco Beach more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Jaco Beach, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Jaco Beach?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Jaco Beach 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Jaco Beach. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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