Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Juneau, AK

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $3,150 in Juneau, AK, rent and utilities included – about $18,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Juneau, AK, United States
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Juneau, AK
🇺🇸 United States
$3,150
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Juneau, AK

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Juneau, AK actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,639 in Medellin versus $3,150 in Juneau, AK.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Juneau, AK $3,150

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,413 in Medellin versus $4,821 in Juneau, AK.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Juneau, AK $4,821

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,186 in Medellin versus $6,492 in Juneau, AK.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Juneau, AK $6,492

Living in Medellin costs roughly 48% less than in Juneau, AK, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 20% above, Juneau, AK 131% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Juneau, AK
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.4K
$16.63 $16.63
-51.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.0K
$88.6 $88.6
-46.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 29.9K
$15.93 $15.93
-40.36%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,485
$6.81 $6.81
-55.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,660
$2.78 $2.78
-35.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,443
$2.19 $2.19
-35.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 9,990
$6.95 $6.95
-54.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
$7.13 $7.13
-19.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Juneau, AK
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,751
$1.45 $1.45
4.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,480
$7.63 $7.63
-68.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,573
$4.81 $4.81
-63.20%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,093
$5.49 $5.49
-47.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.1K
$22.45 $22.45
-54.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.1K
$15.38 $15.38
-35.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.0K
$18.72 $18.72
-25.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.5K
$6.62 $6.62
-40.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,883
$3.70 $3.70
-58.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,867
$4.81 $4.81
-54.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,870
$5.68 $5.68
-61.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,174
$3.03 $3.03
-35.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,000
$4.39 $4.39
-63.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,604
$2.81 $2.81
-59.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,911
$2.64 $2.64
-53.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$14.78 $14.78
-73.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.0K
$17.11 $17.11
-20.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,221
$2.58 $2.58
-35.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,103
$3.24 $3.24
-30.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Juneau, AK
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,674
$2.06 $2.06
-43.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 243.4K
$39.77 $39.77
94.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 3,989
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,442
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 26.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,237
$1.21 $1.21
11.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.2M
$23.8K $23.8K
43.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.1M
$32.6K $32.6K
6.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Juneau, AK
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 533.7K
$380 $380
-55.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.6K
$75.3 $75.3
-81.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.3K
$110 $110
-74.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Juneau, AK
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 137.5K
$132 $132
-66.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.7K
$14.75 $14.75
-53.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Juneau, AK
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$1,586 $1,586
-49.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Juneau, AK
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 266.5K
$60.0 $60.0
41.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 182.3K
$45.62 $45.62
27.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 424.6K
$86.0 $86.0
57.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 307.9K
$148 $148
-33.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Juneau, AK
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$1,644 $1,644
-26.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$1,341 $1,341
-52.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$3,029 $3,029
-33.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$2,724 $2,724
-62.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.1M
$3,481 $3,481
19.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$3,529 $3,529
-45.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Juneau, AK
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$4,023 $4,023
-83.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.56
66.77%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Juneau, AK: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Juneau, AK
$1.3K 109% $700
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Juneau, AK
$550 85.1% $253
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Juneau, AK
$566 168% $354
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Juneau, AK
$331 95.4% $162
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Juneau, AK
$153 9.5% $16
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Juneau, AK
$48 * 48.7% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Juneau, AK
$161 180% $104

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,208 in Medellin and $1,644 in Juneau, AK. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Juneau, AK pays about 6.1 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $47 in Medellin vs $89 in Juneau, AK for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $550 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇺🇸 Juneau, AK
🕒 Local time
00:06 12:06 AM
21:06 9:06 PM
3 h behind Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
31,000
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3,146 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,502 COP (10,000 COP = 2.86 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Juneau, AK 7,640 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Juneau, AK

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Juneau, AK: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Juneau, AK?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 48% lower than in Juneau, AK. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Juneau, AK?
On paper, salaries run 84% lower in Medellin. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Juneau, AK?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,208 in Medellin versus $1,644 in Juneau, AK. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Juneau, AK?
All in, you’ll spend $1,639 per month in Medellin versus $3,150 in Juneau, AK – Medellin is about 48% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Juneau, AK?
A monthly transit pass in Juneau, AK runs roughly 49% less than in Medellin. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Medellin or in Juneau, AK?
At $1,639 in Medellin versus $3,150 in Juneau, AK, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Juneau, AK. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Medellin or Juneau, AK?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Should I move to Medellin or to Juneau, AK?
It comes down to priorities – Medellin wins on affordability, Juneau, AK on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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