Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Saint Ann's Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Saint Ann's Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,348 in Saint Ann's Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $2,019 in Saint Ann's Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,690 in Saint Ann's Bay, rent included.

Medellin is about 26% cheaper than Saint Ann's Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Saint Ann's Bay is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$7.54 JMD 1,186

-21.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$49.85 JMD 7,840

-33.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

$8.82 JMD 1,387

-15.76%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$4.41 JMD 694

-62.59%

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

$1.10 COP 3,514

$1.35 JMD 213

-18.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

$0.75 JMD 118

4.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$2.45 JMD 385

-29.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

$3.08 JMD 484

3.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$4.30 JMD 676

-74.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$2.75 JMD 433

-54.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$1.55 JMD 244

-10.97%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$3.61 JMD 568

-39.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$11.08 JMD 1,743

-59.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$6.30 JMD 990

-8.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$7.51 JMD 1,181

19.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$6.15 JMD 967

-62.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$3.09 JMD 485

-65.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$4.20 JMD 660

-63.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$3.00 JMD 471

-54.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$2.05 JMD 322

-44.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$2.00 JMD 314

-41.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

$3.11 JMD 489

-71.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$1.11 JMD 174

-18.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

$8.98 JMD 1,413

-75.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

$11.45 JMD 1,801

5.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

$2.88 JMD 454

-58.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

$3.10 JMD 488

-20.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$0.92 JMD 145

54.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

$3.13 JMD 493

-37.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

$6.22 JMD 979

26.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$1.28 JMD 202

-22.66%

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

$23.8K JMD 3.7M

-25.97%

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

$17.4K JMD 2.7M

54.12%

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

$83.0 COP 264.9K

$164 JMD 25.8K

-49.46%

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

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$21.88 JMD 3,441

-55.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$51.1 JMD 8,033

-53.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$13.38 JMD 2,104

-70.48%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

$223 JMD 35.1K

41.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

$2,512 JMD 395.1K

137.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

$26.02 JMD 4,092

130.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

$25.86 JMD 4,068

23.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

$68.0 JMD 10.7K

49.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

$76.4 JMD 12.0K

40.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$511 JMD 80.3K

-7.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$476 JMD 74.9K

-21.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$991 JMD 155.9K

-14.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$815 JMD 128.2K

-11.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

235.75%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Saint Ann's Bay: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $511 in Saint Ann's Bay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $50.0 in Saint Ann's Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $339 – 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 Ann's Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Saint Ann's Bay is pricier by about 34%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $2,022 in Saint Ann's Bay. 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 $50.0 in Saint Ann's Bay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 75% more in Saint Ann's Bay, 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 $1,003, than in Saint Ann's Bay at $1,348. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Ann's Bay 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 Ann's Bay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.