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 $1,014 per month in Medellin vs $1,360 in Saint Ann's Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,596 per month in Medellin vs $2,028 in Saint Ann's Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,178 per month in Medellin vs $2,695 in Saint Ann's Bay, rent included.

Medellin is about 25% 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

$6.14 COP 22.1K

$7.52 JMD 1,190

-18.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.05 COP 119.0K

$49.83 JMD 7,887

-33.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.32 COP 26.4K

$8.91 JMD 1,410

-17.85%

Cappuccino

$1.66 COP 5,973

$4.41 JMD 698

-62.36%

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

$1.10 COP 3,978

$1.36 JMD 215

-19.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,816

$0.72 JMD 114

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 COP 6,174

$2.46 JMD 389

-30.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 11.4K

$3.21 JMD 509

-1.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 COP 4,003

$4.43 JMD 701

-74.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,709

$2.65 JMD 420

-50.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,969

$1.60 JMD 253

-13.75%

Eggs

$2.22 COP 7,992

$3.44 JMD 545

-35.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.34 COP 15.6K

$11.25 JMD 1,780

-61.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 COP 20.9K

$6.53 JMD 1,033

-11.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.98 COP 32.3K

$7.55 JMD 1,195

18.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 COP 8,146

$6.05 JMD 957

-62.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,014

$3.10 JMD 491

-64.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 COP 5,273

$4.16 JMD 658

-64.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,918

$3.02 JMD 478

-54.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,000

$2.10 JMD 332

-47.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,190

$2.00 JMD 316

-42.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,204

$2.97 JMD 469

-70.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 COP 3,117

$1.16 JMD 183

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 8,476

$8.80 JMD 1,393

-73.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.86 COP 39.1K

$11.35 JMD 1,796

-4.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,321

$2.81 JMD 445

-57.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,927

$3.15 JMD 499

-21.27%

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

$0.97 JMD 153

46.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,885

$3.27 JMD 517

-41.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.65 COP 27.6K

$6.31 JMD 999

21.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 COP 3,482

$1.24 JMD 195

-21.77%

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

$18.1K COP 65.2M

$23.6K JMD 3.7M

-23.47%

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

$26.3K COP 94.8M

$17.2K JMD 2.7M

53.08%

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

$81.3 COP 292.9K

$166 JMD 26.3K

-51.08%

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

$9.63 COP 34.7K

$22.26 JMD 3,523

-56.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.36 COP 87.8K

$51.9 JMD 8,211

-53.05%

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

$12.92 JMD 2,045

-69.89%

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

$304 COP 1.1M

$230 JMD 36.4K

32.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,902 COP 21.3M

$2,517 JMD 398.4K

134.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 211.4K

$26.36 JMD 4,172

122.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.48 COP 117.0K

$26.02 JMD 4,118

24.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 366.5K

$68.9 JMD 10.9K

47.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 389.6K

$76.6 JMD 12.1K

41.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 COP 1.7M

$495 JMD 78.4K

-4.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

$475 JMD 75.2K

-21.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$848 COP 3.1M

$1,000 JMD 158.2K

-15.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$829 JMD 131.3K

-13.63%

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

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Saint Ann's Bay: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Medellin versus $495 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 in Medellin versus $50 in Saint Ann's Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $340 – 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 $1,522 per month in Medellin and $2,040 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 78% 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 $1,014, than in Saint Ann's Bay at $1,360. 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.