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

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 39% more expensive than San Juan without rent, and 70% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 14.9% more expensive than San Juan without rent, and 54.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.7K
$5.85 ARS 8,494
3.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 124.8K
$30.30 ARS 44.0K
9.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.4K
$7.80 ARS 11.3K
-6.54%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,134
$1.49 ARS 2,160
9.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,948
$0.92 ARS 1,335
14.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,899
$0.85 ARS 1,227
-9.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,511
$2.03 ARS 2,943
-14.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$2.95 ARS 4,283
7.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,016
$0.73 ARS 1,055
46.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,935
$0.65 ARS 938
101.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,196
$1.23 ARS 1,783
12.20%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,458
$1.74 ARS 2,533
29.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 16.9K
$3.36 ARS 4,879
33.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.6K
$3.57 ARS 5,191
60.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.4K
$4.03 ARS 5,859
119.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,440
$1.48 ARS 2,147
51.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,989
$1.52 ARS 2,211
-30.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,698
$1.52 ARS 2,214
-0.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,120
$2.10 ARS 3,050
-35.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,219
$0.62 ARS 900
80.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,401
$0.68 ARS 988
72.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,396
$0.38 ARS 559
136.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,150
$0.88 ARS 1,276
-4.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,502
$1.70 ARS 2,469
32.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.5K
$5.15 ARS 7,472
93.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,452
$1.47 ARS 2,129
-19.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 8,995
$1.79 ARS 2,595
33.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,234
$0.31 ARS 455
177.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 156.0K
$5.11 ARS 7,425
711.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,522
$0.45 ARS 650
226.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,324
$0.99 ARS 1,436
96.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.2K
$4.81 ARS 6,990
61.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,641
$1.10 ARS 1,596
-11.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 67.6M
$31.2K ARS 45.3M
-42.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 100.6M
$20.6K ARS 29.9M
29.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 305.2K
$78.3 ARS 113.7K
3.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.4K
$4.93 ARS 7,163
90.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 88.8K
$9.90 ARS 14.4K
138.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.1K
$17.84 ARS 25.9K
43.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 72.6K
$5.99 ARS 8,697
222.04%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.4K
$2.04 ARS 2,970
100.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$102 ARS 147.5K
201.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.2M
$2,169 ARS 3.1M
172.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 225.1K
$50.8 ARS 73.7K
17.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 120.3K
$50.7 ARS 73.6K
-36.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 386.5K
$98.4 ARS 142.9K
4.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 406.0K
$120 ARS 174.6K
-10.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$151 ARS 219.5K
219.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$90.5 ARS 131.4K
316.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$252 ARS 366.3K
225.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$199 ARS 289.5K
261.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
$2,069 ARS 3.0M
34.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
$2,114 ARS 3.1M
-37.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$697 ARS 1.0M
-22.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
79
-83.00%

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

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for San Juan: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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