Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Saint George's Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Saint George's

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,198 in Saint George's, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,978 in Saint George's, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,758 in Saint George's, rent included.

Medellin is about 15% cheaper than Saint George's, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Saint George's are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Saint George's 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Saint George's
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95 COPΒ 20.8K
$7.32 EC$19.78
-18.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33 COPΒ 116.3K
$113 EC$304
-70.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 COPΒ 25.2K
$8.46 EC$22.83
-14.54%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COPΒ 5,687
$4.46 EC$12.05
-63.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,821
$1.82 EC$4.91
-40.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COPΒ 2,548
$1.53 EC$4.13
-52.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 COPΒ 6,065
$2.03 EC$5.47
-14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 COPΒ 11.3K
$3.77 EC$10.18
-14.32%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Saint George's
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COPΒ 3,662
$3.95 EC$10.67
-73.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 COPΒ 4,515
$1.73 EC$4.68
-25.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 COPΒ 4,617
$1.88 EC$5.08
-29.79%
Eggs
$2.27 COPΒ 7,927
$4.01 EC$10.82
-43.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.35 COPΒ 15.2K
$10.03 EC$27.09
-56.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COPΒ 20.5K
$5.86 EC$15.82
0.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.61 COPΒ 30.0K
$10.34 EC$27.93
-16.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.25 COPΒ 7,844
$2.69 EC$7.25
-16.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COPΒ 3,733
$1.81 EC$4.89
-40.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COPΒ 5,322
$1.69 EC$4.57
-10.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COPΒ 4,964
$3.04 EC$8.22
-53.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,084
$1.59 EC$4.30
-26.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,077
$1.59 EC$4.30
-26.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,096
$1.27 EC$3.42
-29.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COPΒ 3,146
$1.34 EC$3.63
-32.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 COPΒ 7,837
$1.86 EC$5.03
20.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 COPΒ 38.5K
$6.65 EC$17.97
66.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 COPΒ 3,977
$1.81 EC$4.88
-37.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 COPΒ 8,301
$1.83 EC$4.95
30.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Saint George's
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,916
$1.12 EC$3.03
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.95 COPΒ 146.4K
$37.69 EC$102
11.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COPΒ 4,912
$22.49 EC$60.7
-93.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COPΒ 6,634
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.75 COPΒ 27.0K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COPΒ 3,509
$1.39 EC$3.75
-27.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COPΒ 61.4M
$25.4K EC$68.7K
-30.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 92.5M
$30.6K EC$82.7K
-13.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Saint George's
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.7 COPΒ 292.1K
$210 EC$566
-60.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45 COPΒ 33.0K
$18.69 EC$50.5
-49.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11 COPΒ 84.1K
$46.71 EC$126
-48.38%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Saint George's
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.31 COPΒ 88.3K
$36.80 EC$99.4
-31.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COPΒ 66.8K
$18.87 EC$50.9
1.43%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COPΒ 14.3K
$11.25 EC$30.36
-63.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Saint George's
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COPΒ 1.1M
$56.5 EC$152
452.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,993 COPΒ 20.9M
$2,321 EC$6,268
158.17%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Saint George's
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 COPΒ 202.6K
$25.77 EC$69.6
125.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56 COPΒ 113.6K
$44.38 EC$120
-26.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.6 COPΒ 347.7K
$42.53 EC$115
134.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COPΒ 378.8K
$76.8 EC$207
41.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Saint George's
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 COPΒ 1.7M
$574 EC$1,549
-15.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.3M
$292 EC$789
29.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$837 COPΒ 2.9M
$1,109 EC$2,995
-24.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 COPΒ 2.5M
$528 EC$1,426
36.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,840 COPΒ 9.9M
$399 EC$1,077
611.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,223 COPΒ 4.3M
$112.3K EC$303.2K
-98.91%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Saint George's
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$541 COPΒ 1.9M
$927 EC$2,504
-41.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.33
112.16%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Saint George's: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $574 in Saint George's. 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 71% higher in Saint George's, 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 $113 in Saint George's. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $272 – 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 George's: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saint George's cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Saint George's is pricier by about 18%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,797 in Saint George's. 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 Saint George's?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $113 in Saint George's. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Saint George's?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $1,198 in Saint George's. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Saint George's?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Saint George's at $1,198. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint George's it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Saint George's 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 safer, Medellin or Saint George's?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
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 George's makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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