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

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 20.1% more expensive than San Juan without rent, and 67.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 16.5% more expensive than San Juan without rent, and 53.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$6.03 ARS 7,155
3.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$29.69 ARS 35.3K
8.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$7.77 ARS 9,229
-4.89%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$1.57 ARS 1,870
9.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.95 ARS 1,132
15.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.91 ARS 1,077
-19.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$2.03 ARS 2,406
-18.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$2.96 ARS 3,515
8.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$0.73 ARS 865
49.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$0.71 ARS 837
74.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.21 ARS 1,442
9.92%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$1.68 ARS 1,989
32.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$3.33 ARS 3,960
36.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$3.52 ARS 4,176
62.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$3.97 ARS 4,711
116.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$1.47 ARS 1,740
53.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.53 ARS 1,812
-30.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$1.53 ARS 1,822
-1.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$2.08 ARS 2,473
-31.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$0.63 ARS 745
76.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$0.64 ARS 757
84.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$0.39 ARS 460
128.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.94 ARS 1,121
-10.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$1.8 ARS 2,137
30.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$3.95 ARS 4,686
136.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.54 ARS 1,833
-23.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.76 ARS 2,088
41.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.29 ARS 340
186.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$5.12 ARS 6,074
718.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$0.45 ARS 529
213.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.03 ARS 1,219
90.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$4.78 ARS 5,675
64.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.15 ARS 1,361
-11.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$31K ARS 36.9M
-43.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$20.7K ARS 24.5M
26.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$78.4 ARS 93.1K
5.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$5.05 ARS 5,998
86.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$10.06 ARS 11.9K
133.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$17.8 ARS 21.1K
44.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$6.13 ARS 7,274
212.23%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$1.98 ARS 2,348
100.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$105 ARS 124.4K
190.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$2,191 ARS 2.6M
170.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$50.3 ARS 59.7K
15.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$50.1 ARS 59.5K
-36.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$101 ARS 119.8K
2.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$117 ARS 138.7K
-9.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$151 ARS 179.2K
224.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$89.7 ARS 106.5K
322.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$248 ARS 294.8K
233.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$198 ARS 234.8K
268.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$1,722 ARS 2M
27.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$1,447 ARS 1.7M
5.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$516 ARS 613.1K
6.52%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Juan: October 28, 2025

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