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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,370 in San Juan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $2,131 in San Juan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,893 in San Juan, rent included.

Medellin is about 26% cheaper than San Juan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while San Juan is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$7.47 TTD 50.5

-20.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$60.0 TTD 405

-44.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$7.58 TTD 51.3

-4.62%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$3.76 TTD 25.43

-56.65%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 COP 3,821

$1.09 TTD 7.39

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.78 TTD 5.25

-6.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.90 TTD 12.82

-8.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.88 TTD 19.46

12.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$2.74 TTD 18.50

-61.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$2.70 TTD 18.26

-52.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$2.69 TTD 18.16

-50.93%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$4.99 TTD 33.75

-54.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$7.91 TTD 53.5

-45.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$10.59 TTD 71.6

-44.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$14.54 TTD 98.3

-40.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$5.99 TTD 40.51

-62.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$2.60 TTD 17.59

-58.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$4.20 TTD 28.37

-63.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$4.80 TTD 32.49

-70.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.50 TTD 10.15

-22.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.66 TTD 11.22

-29.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.96 TTD 13.28

-54.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$1.42 TTD 9.57

-36.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$6.00 TTD 40.57

-62.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$18.42 TTD 125

-40.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.21 TTD 14.92

-48.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.84 TTD 19.19

-16.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.05 TTD 7.12

34.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$1.27 TTD 8.57

49.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$14.67 TTD 99.2

-47.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.15 TTD 7.78

-12.17%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$34.6K TTD 233.6K

-49.12%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$38.9K TTD 262.9K

-31.87%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$79.4 TTD 537

5.35%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$45.97 TTD 311

-79.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$62.1 TTD 420

-61.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$9.86 TTD 66.6

-58.42%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$312 COP 1.1M

$323 TTD 2,181

-3.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$7,203 TTD 48.7K

-16.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$58.3 TTD 394

-0.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$37.72 TTD 255

-13.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$147 TTD 992

-32.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$128 TTD 866

-15.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$741 TTD 5,012

-34.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$446 TTD 3,013

-14.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$1,033 TTD 6,985

-18.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$751 TTD 5,075

-3.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

5.38

149.63%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for San Juan: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $741 in San Juan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $60.0 in San Juan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $378 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Medellin vs San Juan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – San Juan is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $2,055 in San Juan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $60.0 in San Juan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 99% more in San Juan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in San Juan at $1,370. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Juan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Juan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.