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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 59.8% cheaper than San Jose, CA without rent, and 77.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 61.9% cheaper than San Jose, CA without rent, and 74.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
San Jose, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$20.3 $20.3
-69.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$100 $100
-67.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$11.54 $11.54
-35.96%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$5.79 $5.79
-70.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$3.22 $3.22
-65.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$2.47 $2.47
-70.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$8.8 $8.8
-81.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$10.92 $10.92
-70.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
San Jose, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.46 $1.46
-25.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$4.94 $4.94
-74.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$3.19 $3.19
-58.31%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$4.85 $4.85
-54.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$21.13 $21.13
-78.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$15.17 $15.17
-62.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$22.45 $22.45
-61.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$6.08 $6.08
-62.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$2.46 $2.46
-56.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$4.79 $4.79
-68.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$6.75 $6.75
-78.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$3.44 $3.44
-67.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$4.28 $4.28
-72.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$2.97 $2.97
-70.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$2.77 $2.77
-69.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$11.32 $11.32
-79.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$14.95 $14.95
-37.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$2.35 $2.35
-49.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$3.35 $3.35
-25.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
San Jose, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$2.53 $2.53
-67.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$89 $89
-52.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$3.42 $3.42
-58.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.89 $1.89
3.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$29.82 $29.82
-73.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.31 $1.31
-22.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$30.2K $30.2K
-41.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$27K $27K
-2.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
San Jose, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$292 $292
-71.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$49.13 $49.13
-80.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$67.9 $67.9
-65.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
San Jose, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$122 $122
-78.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$30.12 $30.12
-36.45%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$15.45 $15.45
-74.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
San Jose, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$1,985 $1,985
-84.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$26.2K $26.2K
-77.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
San Jose, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$52.5 $52.5
10.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$43.85 $43.85
-27.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$89.8 $89.8
14.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$138 $138
-23.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
San Jose, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$3,022 $3,022
-83.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$2,672 $2,672
-85.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$5,283 $5,283
-84.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$4,622 $4,622
-84.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$10.6K $10.6K
-79.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$9,587 $9,587
-84.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
San Jose, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$5,864 $5,864
-90.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.51
106.30%

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, CA: October 28, 2025

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