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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,240 in Jamestown, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,748 in Jamestown, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,255 in Jamestown, rent included.

Medellin is about 19% cheaper than Jamestown, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Jamestown are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Jamestown 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$16.09 SHP 11.92

-63.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$48.49 SHP 35.92

-32.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$8.64 SHP 6.40

-14.00%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$3.11 SHP 2.31

-46.95%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.19 SHP 0.88

-7.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$1.21 SHP 0.89

-35.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$4.82 SHP 3.57

-64.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$2.69 SHP 2.00

18.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.82 SHP 1.35

-39.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.59 SHP 1.18

-20.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.37 SHP 1.02

0.73%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$4.32 SHP 3.20

-49.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$8.08 SHP 5.99

-44.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$10.80 SHP 8.00

-46.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$10.86 SHP 8.05

-17.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$2.68 SHP 1.99

-66.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$2.22 SHP 1.64

-59.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$11.00 SHP 8.15

-79.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$41.32 SHP 30.61

0.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$2.80 SHP 2.07

-49.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$108 SHP 79.7

-78.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$6.88 SHP 5.10

267.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

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

$316 COP 994.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$40.10 SHP 29.70

49.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$20.11 SHP 14.90

58.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$47.20 SHP 34.97

115.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$673 SHP 499

-29.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$617 SHP 457

-39.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$705 SHP 522

20.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$716 SHP 530

0.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Jamestown: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $673 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: $193 vs $205 – 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 24%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,860 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 6% 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 $1,003, than in Jamestown at $1,240. 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.