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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 45.5% cheaper than San Juan without rent, and 58.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 48.3% cheaper than San Juan without rent, and 54.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$19.33 $19.33
-67.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$82.2 $82.2
-60.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$9.81 $9.81
-24.67%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$3.53 $3.53
-51.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$1.72 $1.72
-36.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$1.44 $1.44
-49.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$3.07 $3.07
-45.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$4.57 $4.57
-29.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$2.52 $2.52
-56.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$3.6 $3.6
-65.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$2.25 $2.25
-40.89%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$6.15 $6.15
-63.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$8.56 $8.56
-46.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$8.44 $8.44
-32.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$12.97 $12.97
-33.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$5.71 $5.71
-60.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$2.7 $2.7
-60.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$3.95 $3.95
-61.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$4.04 $4.04
-64.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$3.88 $3.88
-71.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$3.07 $3.07
-61.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$3.1 $3.1
-71.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$1.97 $1.97
-57.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$12.06 $12.06
-80.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$17.31 $17.31
-46.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$2.52 $2.52
-53.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$3.23 $3.23
-22.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$1.49 $1.49
-44.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$30.3 $30.3
38.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.46 $1.46
34.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$14.71 $14.71
-46.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.01 $1.01
0.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$36.3K $36.3K
-51.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$27K $27K
-2.90%
🧾 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
$491 $491
-83.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$78.8 $78.8
-88.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$73.5 $73.5
-68.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$46.9 $46.9
-45.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$35.31 $35.31
-45.79%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$11.76 $11.76
-66.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$464 $464
-34.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$10.6K $10.6K
-44.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$45.09 $45.09
28.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$56.5 $56.5
-44.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$90.1 $90.1
14.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$108 $108
-2.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$1,606 $1,606
-69.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$866 $866
-56.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$2,414 $2,414
-65.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$1,397 $1,397
-47.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$4,790 $4,790
-54.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$2,252 $2,252
-31.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
San Juan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$1,998 $1,998
-72.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
5.71
135.20%

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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