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 $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,151 in Saint Andrew Parish, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,900 in Saint Andrew Parish, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,650 in Saint Andrew Parish, rent included.

Medellin is about 12% cheaper than Saint Andrew Parish, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Saint Andrew Parish are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Saint Andrew Parish 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$7.61 JMD 1,197

-21.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$34.16 JMD 5,373

-2.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$6.24 JMD 981

15.87%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.90 JMD 299

-14.21%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.96 JMD 152

13.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.75 JMD 117

-2.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.43 JMD 383

-28.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$3.16 JMD 497

2.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$4.26 JMD 670

-75.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.03 JMD 162

25.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.29 JMD 202

2.33%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$3.46 JMD 544

-34.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$10.96 JMD 1,723

-60.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$6.29 JMD 989

-6.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$7.57 JMD 1,191

13.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$5.99 JMD 942

-62.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$3.09 JMD 487

-65.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$4.15 JMD 652

-63.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$2.90 JMD 456

-51.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$2.01 JMD 316

-41.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$2.02 JMD 318

-42.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$3.08 JMD 484

-71.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$1.50 JMD 236

-40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$8.85 JMD 1,392

-74.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$11.46 JMD 1,802

-3.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.77 JMD 436

-58.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$3.19 JMD 502

-25.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.11 JMD 175

27.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$3.15 JMD 496

-39.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$6.22 JMD 977

24.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.28 JMD 202

-21.09%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$42.1K JMD 6.6M

-58.21%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

-22.26%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$165 JMD 25.9K

-49.18%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$21.80 JMD 3,429

-56.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$51.1 JMD 8,029

-52.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$13.05 JMD 2,052

-68.58%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$222 JMD 34.9K

40.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$2,473 JMD 389.0K

142.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$26.59 JMD 4,182

118.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$25.91 JMD 4,074

25.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$71.1 JMD 11.2K

40.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$75.4 JMD 11.9K

44.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$747 JMD 117.4K

-35.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$309 JMD 48.6K

22.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$1,880 JMD 295.7K

-55.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$884 JMD 139.0K

-18.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$2,760 JMD 434.1K

2.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$724 JMD 113.8K

-25.26%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Saint Andrew Parish: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $747 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 34% 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 $34.00 in Saint Andrew Parish. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $322 – 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

Yes – Saint Andrew Parish is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,726 in Saint Andrew Parish. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $34.00 in Saint Andrew Parish. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 70% 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.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Saint Andrew Parish at $1,151. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Andrew Parish 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.

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.