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 $1,014 per month in Medellin vs $1,112 in Saint Andrew Parish, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,596 per month in Medellin vs $1,858 in Saint Andrew Parish, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,178 per month in Medellin vs $2,604 in Saint Andrew Parish, rent included.

Medellin is about 9% 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 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.14 COP 22.1K

$7.40 JMD 1,171

-17.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.05 COP 119.0K

$34.06 JMD 5,391

-2.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.32 COP 26.4K

$6.09 JMD 964

20.20%

Cappuccino

$1.66 COP 5,973

$1.90 JMD 301

-12.63%

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

$1.10 COP 3,978

$0.91 JMD 143

20.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,816

$0.71 JMD 113

9.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 COP 6,174

$2.48 JMD 392

-31.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 11.4K

$3.05 JMD 483

3.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 COP 4,003

$4.22 JMD 668

-73.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,709

$1.02 JMD 161

28.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,969

$1.27 JMD 200

8.66%

Eggs

$2.22 COP 7,992

$3.48 JMD 550

-36.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.34 COP 15.6K

$10.89 JMD 1,723

-60.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 COP 20.9K

$6.43 JMD 1,018

-9.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.98 COP 32.3K

$7.52 JMD 1,190

19.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 COP 8,146

$6.11 JMD 967

-63.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,014

$3.12 JMD 493

-64.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 COP 5,273

$4.24 JMD 672

-65.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,918

$2.99 JMD 474

-54.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,000

$2.03 JMD 321

-45.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,190

$1.92 JMD 304

-39.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,204

$3.10 JMD 491

-71.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 COP 3,117

$1.43 JMD 226

-39.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 8,476

$8.56 JMD 1,355

-72.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.86 COP 39.1K

$11.56 JMD 1,830

-6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,321

$2.78 JMD 441

-56.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,927

$3.09 JMD 488

-19.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,836

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.77 COP 146.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 5,125

$1.12 JMD 177

26.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,885

$3.16 JMD 500

-39.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.65 COP 27.6K

$6.09 JMD 965

25.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 COP 3,482

$1.25 JMD 197

-22.40%

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

$18.1K COP 65.2M

$43.4K JMD 6.9M

-58.28%

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

$26.3K COP 94.8M

$33.7K JMD 5.3M

-21.95%

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

$81.3 COP 292.9K

$162 JMD 25.7K

-49.84%

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

$9.63 COP 34.7K

$22.01 JMD 3,483

-56.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.36 COP 87.8K

$51.7 JMD 8,189

-52.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.02 COP 93.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.92 COP 68.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.89 COP 14.0K

$13.22 JMD 2,092

-70.57%

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

$304 COP 1.1M

$229 JMD 36.2K

32.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,902 COP 21.3M

$2,526 JMD 399.8K

133.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 211.4K

$26.37 JMD 4,174

122.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.48 COP 117.0K

$25.69 JMD 4,067

26.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 366.5K

$70.2 JMD 11.1K

44.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 389.6K

$75.4 JMD 11.9K

43.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 COP 1.7M

$752 JMD 119.0K

-36.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

$310 JMD 49.1K

19.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$848 COP 3.1M

$1,904 JMD 301.3K

-55.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$907 JMD 143.6K

-21.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,871 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,375 COP 5.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$542 COP 2.0M

$743 JMD 117.5K

-27.09%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Saint Andrew Parish: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Medellin versus $752 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 37% 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 in Medellin versus $34 in Saint Andrew Parish. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $323 – 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 10%, 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 $1,522 per month in Medellin and $1,667 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 69% 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 $1,014, than in Saint Andrew Parish at $1,112. 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.