Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Saint Andrew Parish Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Saint Andrew Parish

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,152 in Saint Andrew Parish, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,857 in Saint Andrew Parish, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,562 in Saint Andrew Parish, rent included.

Medellin is about 13% cheaper than Saint Andrew Parish, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Saint Andrew Parish are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Saint Andrew Parish 13% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$7.67 JMD 1,208
-22.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
$34.87 JMD 5,492
-5.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$6.20 JMD 977
19.84%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
$1.92 JMD 303
-14.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
$0.91 JMD 143
20.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
$0.74 JMD 117
5.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
$2.43 JMD 383
-29.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$3.11 JMD 491
2.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$4.24 JMD 668
-74.06%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$1.05 JMD 166
20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$1.22 JMD 192
13.11%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$3.60 JMD 566
-39.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$10.97 JMD 1,728
-59.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$6.23 JMD 981
-7.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$7.60 JMD 1,198
18.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$6.11 JMD 963
-62.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$3.12 JMD 491
-66.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$4.13 JMD 650
-63.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$3.05 JMD 480
-55.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$2.09 JMD 330
-45.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$1.93 JMD 303
-39.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
$3.04 JMD 478
-70.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$1.50 JMD 235
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
$8.98 JMD 1,414
-75.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
$11.52 JMD 1,814
5.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
$2.80 JMD 440
-57.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
$3.22 JMD 507
-22.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
$1.07 JMD 168
32.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
$3.14 JMD 495
-37.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
$6.28 JMD 989
25.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
$1.27 JMD 201
-22.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
$43.1K JMD 6.8M
-59.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
$32.9K JMD 5.2M
-18.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
$162 JMD 25.5K
-48.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
$22.24 JMD 3,502
-56.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$52.0 JMD 8,190
-54.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$13.18 JMD 2,075
-70.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
$223 JMD 35.1K
41.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$2,442 JMD 384.5K
144.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
$26.01 JMD 4,096
130.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
$25.72 JMD 4,051
23.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
$71.0 JMD 11.2K
43.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
$77.7 JMD 12.2K
38.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$755 JMD 118.9K
-37.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$311 JMD 48.9K
20.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$1,895 JMD 298.5K
-55.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$889 JMD 139.9K
-19.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
$2,736 JMD 430.8K
19.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$720 JMD 113.4K
-13.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
9.15
46.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Saint Andrew Parish: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $755 in Saint Andrew Parish. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 15% higher in Saint Andrew Parish, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $35.00 in Saint Andrew Parish. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $324 – 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 Saint Andrew Parish: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saint Andrew Parish cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Saint Andrew Parish is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,728 in Saint Andrew Parish. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Saint Andrew Parish?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $35.00 in Saint Andrew Parish. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Saint Andrew Parish?
Groceries cost about 68% more in Saint Andrew Parish, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Saint Andrew Parish?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Saint Andrew Parish at $1,152. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Andrew Parish it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Saint Andrew Parish more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint Andrew Parish makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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