😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,391 in Jurbarkas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $2,157 in Jurbarkas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $2,923 in Jurbarkas.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 21% more expensive than in Jurbarkas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin23% above, Jurbarkas2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Jurbarkas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 24.9K
$12.32€10.68
-34.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 148.7K
$59.6€51.6
-19.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.7K
$7.70€6.67
28.44%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,724
$3.56€3.08
-12.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,928
$2.54€2.20
-24.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,692
$2.02€1.75
-25.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,705
$5.79€5.02
-46.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$4.76€4.13
20.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Jurbarkas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,489
$1.43€1.24
0.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,725
$1.58€1.37
57.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,510
$2.09€1.82
-15.31%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,195
$3.08€2.67
-3.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.3K
$10.61€9.20
-5.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.4K
$8.17€7.08
23.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.4K
$12.14€10.52
17.79%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.8K
$1.77€1.54
133.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 4,997
$1.52€1.32
5.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 6,976
$1.76€1.52
27.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 6,997
$3.03€2.62
-25.74%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,347
$0.89€0.77
129.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,769
$0.96€0.84
60.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,635
$1.62€1.40
-27.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,059
$0.84€0.73
55.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.1K
$6.10€5.28
-36.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.5K
$8.83€7.66
58.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,415
$1.79€1.55
-2.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,917
$1.91€1.65
50.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Jurbarkas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,776
$1.18€1.03
3.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 250.0K
$33.25€28.81
142.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,066
$3.22€2.79
-59.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,796
$0.88€0.76
148.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.1K
$14.13€12.24
-38.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,241
$1.80€1.56
-23.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.5M
$28.0K€24.2K
-0.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.1M
$29.3K€25.4K
22.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Jurbarkas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 550.8K
$209€181
-15.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.1K
$18.68€16.19
-25.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.4K
$17.10€14.82
73.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Jurbarkas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 139.4K
$44.42€38.49
1.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.2K
$23.48€20.35
-27.09%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.6K
$9.14€7.92
-27.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Jurbarkas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$570€494
42.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.5M
$9,339€8,094
-1.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Jurbarkas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 278.0K
$94.4€81.8
-5.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 183.2K
$42.10€36.49
40.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 429.4K
$92.4€80.1
49.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 317.3K
$170€147
-39.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Jurbarkas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$460€398
131.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$361€313
83.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$866€750
118.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$646€560
58.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.0M
$2,868€2,485
45.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$1,751€1,518
-4.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Jurbarkas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$1,993€1,727
-65.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.99
174.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Jurbarkas: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $460 in Jurbarkas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jurbarkas pays 194% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $60.0 in Jurbarkas. Groceries flip the comparison at $305 vs $252, with Jurbarkas cheaper for home cooking.
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 Jurbarkas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jurbarkas cheaper than Medellin?
Jurbarkas is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Jurbarkas?
On paper, salaries run 194% lower in Jurbarkas. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Jurbarkas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $460 in Jurbarkas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Jurbarkas runs roughly 142% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $813 in Medellin versus $570 in Jurbarkas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Jurbarkas?
At $1,391 in Jurbarkas versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jurbarkas but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Jurbarkas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Jurbarkas more family-friendly?
For families, Jurbarkas is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Jurbarkas?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Jurbarkas 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 Jurbarkas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.