Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jamestown Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jamestown

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,254 in Jamestown, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,736 in Jamestown, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,218 in Jamestown, rent included.

Medellin is about 18% cheaper than Jamestown, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Jamestown are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Jamestown 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.5K

$16.07 SHP 11.89

-63.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 119.1K

$48.49 SHP 35.88

-32.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.2K

$8.89 SHP 6.58

-19.01%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,186

$2.98 SHP 2.20

-42.95%

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

$1.10 COP 3,996

$1.14 SHP 0.84

-3.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,625

$1.21 SHP 0.89

-40.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,067

$4.69 SHP 3.47

-64.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.3K

$2.64 SHP 1.95

17.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,837

$1.89 SHP 1.40

-43.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,531

$1.64 SHP 1.21

-23.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,060

$1.39 SHP 1.03

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,229

$4.32 SHP 3.20

-47.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.8K

$8.07 SHP 5.97

-46.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.2K

$10.80 SHP 7.99

-45.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 32.1K

$10.79 SHP 7.99

-18.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,159

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,911

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,563

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,987

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,109

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,067

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,080

$2.78 SHP 2.06

-69.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,305

$2.25 SHP 1.67

-59.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,477

$11.03 SHP 8.16

-78.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,342

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,617

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,859

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 149.6K

$40.62 SHP 30.06

1.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,223

$2.79 SHP 2.07

-48.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,952

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 29.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,410

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

$17.9K COP 65.2M

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

$26.8K COP 97.4M

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

$84.0 COP 305.4K

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

$9.60 COP 34.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.9K

$109 SHP 80.7

-77.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 94.1K

$6.90 SHP 5.11

275.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 69.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.2K

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

$306 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 210.6K

$41.55 SHP 30.75

39.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 115.7K

$20.61 SHP 15.25

54.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 363.3K

$46.98 SHP 34.76

112.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 389.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$676 SHP 500

-27.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$623 SHP 461

-40.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$700 SHP 518

17.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$718 SHP 531

-0.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

6.2

116.61%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Jamestown: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $676 in Jamestown. 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 $48.00 in Jamestown. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $207 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Jamestown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Jamestown is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,881 in Jamestown. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 1% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Jamestown, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Jamestown at $1,254. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jamestown it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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