Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and San Jose Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and San Jose

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 39.5% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 36.9% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 40.8% cheaper than San Jose without rent, and 38.6% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.23 COP 26K

$10.76 ₡5,385

-42.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 COP 134.8K

$59 ₡29.5K

-45.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.39 COP 30.8K

$9.85 ₡4,931

-24.97%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 7,155

$3.88 ₡1,942

-55.67%

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

$1.1 COP 4,575

$1.96 ₡983

-43.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 3,060

$1.59 ₡794

-54.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.66 COP 6,916

$3.04 ₡1,522

-45.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.2 COP 13.3K

$4.59 ₡2,300

-30.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 4,552

$2.02 ₡1,013

-46.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 COP 5,188

$2.88 ₡1,443

-56.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 COP 5,544

$2.13 ₡1,067

-37.56%

Eggs

$2.22 COP 9,252

$2.94 ₡1,472

-24.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.55 COP 19K

$9.69 ₡4,852

-53.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 COP 23.8K

$9.22 ₡4,617

-38.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.59 COP 35.8K

$13.64 ₡6,831

-37.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 COP 9,410

$4.47 ₡2,238

-49.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 4,461

$1.45 ₡728

-26.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 6,293

$4.38 ₡2,192

-65.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 5,911

$3.55 ₡1,779

-60.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,619

$3.55 ₡1,777

-68.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,932

$3.25 ₡1,628

-63.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,718

$1.04 ₡519

-14.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 3,507

$2.8 ₡1,403

-70.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 9,809

$5.43 ₡2,716

-56.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.34 COP 38.9K

$18.98 ₡9,503

-50.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 COP 4,927

$2.41 ₡1,205

-51.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 10.4K

$2.92 ₡1,461

-14.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 COP 3,464

$1 ₡501

-17.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.9 COP 174.7K

$41.57 ₡20.8K

0.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 5,899

$1.88 ₡939

-25.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 8,164

$1.86 ₡930

5.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 COP 32.7K

$7.8 ₡3,904

0.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 COP 4,265

$1.4 ₡699

-27.14%

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

$17.6K COP 73.4M

$37.7K ₡18.9M

-53.34%

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

$26.2K COP 109.2M

$32.7K ₡16.4M

-19.91%

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

$82.5 COP 344.1K

$92.9 ₡46.5K

-11.11%

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

$9.44 COP 39.4K

$25.98 ₡13K

-63.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.51 COP 98K

$60.2 ₡30.1K

-60.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.68 COP 107.1K

$56.2 ₡28.2K

-54.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 79.8K

$38.51 ₡19.3K

-50.30%

Cinema Ticket

$3.96 COP 16.5K

$9.89 ₡4,953

-59.96%

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

$305 COP 1.3M

$567 ₡283.6K

-46.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,925 COP 24.7M

$12.8K ₡6.4M

-53.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 241.4K

$63.5 ₡31.8K

-8.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.59 COP 131.7K

$50.8 ₡25.4K

-37.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 430.1K

$125 ₡62.6K

-17.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 COP 440.5K

$107 ₡53.7K

-1.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 COP 2M

$865 ₡433K

-43.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.6M

$536 ₡268.3K

-29.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 COP 3.4M

$1,427 ₡714.5K

-42.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$729 COP 3M

$1,034 ₡517.9K

-29.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,190 COP 9.1M

$2,869 ₡1.4M

-23.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 COP 6.4M

$1,697 ₡849.3K

-9.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$550 COP 2.3M

$996 ₡498.4K

-44.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

10.17

32.06%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

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