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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $4,430 in Saint George, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $6,697 in Saint George, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $8,964 in Saint George, rent included.

Medellin is about 77% cheaper than Saint George, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Saint George is 231% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Saint George
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.4K
$59.5 BMDΒ 59.5
-89.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 117.4K
$179 BMDΒ 179
-81.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.3K
$15.02 BMDΒ 15.02
-52.80%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,115
$6.32 BMDΒ 6.32
-72.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,924
$3.50 BMDΒ 3.50
-68.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,781
$2.86 BMDΒ 2.86
-72.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 5,997
$9.80 BMDΒ 9.80
-82.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 11.0K
$8.74 BMDΒ 8.74
-64.87%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Saint George
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,906
$4.54 BMDΒ 4.54
-75.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,508
$8.53 BMDΒ 8.53
-85.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,922
$3.89 BMDΒ 3.89
-64.52%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,827
$7.49 BMDΒ 7.49
-70.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.7K
$7.65 BMDΒ 7.65
-42.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.1K
$24.35 BMDΒ 24.35
-76.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 31.8K
$25.52 BMDΒ 25.52
-65.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,349
$10.21 BMDΒ 10.21
-77.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,777
$6.20 BMDΒ 6.20
-82.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,374
$8.99 BMDΒ 8.99
-83.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,924
$9.20 BMDΒ 9.20
-85.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,111
$8.42 BMDΒ 8.42
-86.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,155
$5.03 BMDΒ 5.03
-76.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,182
$5.88 BMDΒ 5.88
-84.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,997
$3.29 BMDΒ 3.29
-74.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,145
$17.76 BMDΒ 17.76
-87.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 38.0K
$25.25 BMDΒ 25.25
-57.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,284
$5.46 BMDΒ 5.46
-78.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,824
$4.53 BMDΒ 4.53
-45.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Saint George
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,056
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 147.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,264
$6.24 BMDΒ 6.24
-76.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 7,009
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.6K
$53.6 BMDΒ 53.6
-85.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,409
$2.30 BMDΒ 2.30
-58.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 64.7M
$35.5K BMDΒ 35.5K
-48.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 94.6M
$39.6K BMDΒ 39.6K
-33.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Saint George
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 293.7K
$238 BMDΒ 238
-65.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 33.9K
$120 BMDΒ 120
-92.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 86.5K
$153 BMDΒ 153
-84.20%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Saint George
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 92.4K
$99.6 BMDΒ 99.6
-73.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 67.9K
$76.3 BMDΒ 76.3
-75.10%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.0K
$13.36 BMDΒ 13.36
-70.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Saint George
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$1,338 BMDΒ 1,338
-76.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.3M
$24.4K BMDΒ 24.4K
-75.51%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Saint George
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 209.5K
$30.17 BMDΒ 30.17
94.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 115.5K
$61.1 BMDΒ 61.1
-47.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 366.4K
$136 BMDΒ 136
-24.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 387.2K
$125 BMDΒ 125
-13.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Saint George
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$2,513 BMDΒ 2,513
-81.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
$2,160 BMDΒ 2,160
-82.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$3,778 BMDΒ 3,778
-77.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$3,492 BMDΒ 3,492
-79.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 10.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Saint George
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.5
106.62%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Saint George: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $2,513 in Saint George. 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 $179 in Saint George. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $753 – 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: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saint George cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Saint George is pricier by about 337%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $6,646 in Saint George. 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?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $179 in Saint George. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Saint George?
Groceries cost about 299% more in Saint George, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Saint George?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Saint George at $4,430. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint George it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Saint George 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?
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 makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities