Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Saint Joseph, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Saint Joseph, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,600 in Saint Joseph, MO, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $2,530 in Saint Joseph, MO, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $3,459 in Saint Joseph, MO, rent included.

Medellin costs about 5% more than Saint Joseph, MO, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Saint Joseph, MO sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Saint Joseph, MO by 17%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.5K

$20.03 $20.03

-59.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 152.0K

$51.0 $51.0

-6.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 31.4K

$10.73 $10.73

-7.83%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,941

$5.09 $5.09

-38.51%

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

$1.91 COP 6,061

$2.05 $2.05

-6.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,796

$1.14 $1.14

32.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,921

$5.10 $5.10

-38.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 18.3K

$7.28 $7.28

-21.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,590

$0.78 $0.78

84.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,898

$3.06 $3.06

-18.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,634

$6.16 $6.16

-71.27%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,400

$4.47 $4.47

-33.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 32.0K

$11.64 $11.64

-13.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 32.1K

$4.42 $4.42

128.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 45.4K

$14.59 $14.59

-1.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 13.1K

$6.71 $6.71

-38.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,109

$2.35 $2.35

-31.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,132

$5.95 $5.95

-62.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,154

$4.37 $4.37

-48.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,489

$3.07 $3.07

-33.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,876

$3.65 $3.65

-57.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,716

$1.87 $1.87

-37.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,150

$2.61 $2.61

-49.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.4K

$9.65 $9.65

-59.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 44.5K

$8.08 $8.08

73.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,536

$1.85 $1.85

-5.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 9,116

$2.45 $2.45

17.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,860

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 255.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,157

$5.06 $5.06

-74.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,947

$1.83 $1.83

19.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.7K

$34.90 $34.90

-75.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,336

$0.95 $0.95

44.21%

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

$27.8K COP 88.4M

$35.5K $35.5K

-21.65%

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

$35.8K COP 113.6M

$25.6K $25.6K

39.65%

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

$177 COP 563.1K

$123 $123

44.19%

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

$13.88 COP 44.1K

$51.2 $51.2

-72.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 94.4K

$63.4 $63.4

-53.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 142.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 21.1K

$15.26 $15.26

-56.42%

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

$813 COP 2.6M

$814 $814

-0.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 284.3K

$51.1 $51.1

75.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 187.3K

$35.50 $35.50

66.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 439.0K

$90.4 $90.4

52.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 324.4K

$131 $131

-21.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.4M

$626 $626

69.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$533 $533

24.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 6.0M

$1,115 $1,115

69.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.3M

$977 $977

5.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.2M

$2,716 $2,716

-75.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

5.89

85.74%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Saint Joseph, MO: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $626 in Saint Joseph, MO. 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 301% higher in Saint Joseph, MO, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $51.0 in Saint Joseph, MO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $361 – 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 Joseph, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $2,400 in Saint Joseph, MO. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Saint Joseph, MO, 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $51.0 in Saint Joseph, MO. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Saint Joseph, MO, where all-in costs run around $1,600, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Saint Joseph, MO it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Saint Joseph, MO – 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 Saint Joseph, MO. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.