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

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 48.4% more expensive than San Juan without rent, and 64.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 24.4% more expensive than San Juan without rent, and 56.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COP 22.1K
$5.85 ARS 7,958
4.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COP 119.0K
$30.10 ARS 40.9K
9.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COP 26.4K
$8.04 ARS 10.9K
-8.96%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COP 5,971
$1.49 ARS 2,025
11.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,977
$0.89 ARS 1,211
23.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,815
$0.84 ARS 1,145
-7.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 6,172
$1.96 ARS 2,660
-12.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.4K
$3.09 ARS 4,201
2.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COP 4,002
$0.72 ARS 975
54.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,707
$0.69 ARS 939
89.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,967
$1.27 ARS 1,728
8.66%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 7,989
$1.73 ARS 2,353
28.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.6K
$3.31 ARS 4,502
31.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.9K
$3.41 ARS 4,643
70.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COP 32.3K
$4.06 ARS 5,516
121.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 8,143
$1.49 ARS 2,026
51.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,013
$1.46 ARS 1,979
-23.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COP 5,271
$1.48 ARS 2,011
-1.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,916
$2.15 ARS 2,927
-36.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,999
$0.63 ARS 851
76.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,188
$0.64 ARS 868
81.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,202
$0.41 ARS 561
117.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,116
$0.93 ARS 1,261
-6.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,473
$1.73 ARS 2,354
35.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COP 39.1K
$4.87 ARS 6,622
123.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,319
$1.53 ARS 2,086
-21.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,923
$1.82 ARS 2,475
36.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,835
$0.29 ARS 388
172.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COP 146.8K
$5.05 ARS 6,864
707.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 5,124
$0.45 ARS 608
215.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,882
$0.99 ARS 1,345
92.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COP 27.5K
$4.77 ARS 6,488
60.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,481
$1.14 ARS 1,545
-14.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 65.2M
$32.0K ARS 43.6M
-43.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COP 94.7M
$21.4K ARS 29.1M
23.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 292.8K
$78.7 ARS 107.0K
3.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COP 34.7K
$4.98 ARS 6,778
93.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COP 87.7K
$9.89 ARS 13.4K
146.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COP 93.7K
$18.20 ARS 24.8K
42.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COP 68.1K
$5.85 ARS 7,950
223.42%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COP 14.0K
$1.95 ARS 2,657
99.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COP 1.1M
$105 ARS 143.1K
189.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COP 21.3M
$2,187 ARS 3.0M
169.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 211.3K
$50.5 ARS 68.6K
16.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COP 116.9K
$49.15 ARS 66.8K
-33.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 366.3K
$101 ARS 137.1K
0.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 389.4K
$119 ARS 162.3K
-9.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COP 1.7M
$152 ARS 207.2K
211.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$88.8 ARS 120.8K
317.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COP 3.1M
$251 ARS 341.5K
237.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$196 ARS 266.9K
265.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COP 10.3M
$2,002 ARS 2.7M
43.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COP 5.0M
$2,132 ARS 2.9M
-35.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COP 1.9M
$701 ARS 953.7K
-22.78%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for San Juan: April 13, 2026

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

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