Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and San Mateo, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and San Mateo, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 49.6% cheaper than San Mateo, CA without rent, and 77.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 60.4% cheaper than San Mateo, CA without rent, and 75.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$20.55 $20.55
-69.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$65.3 $65.3
-50.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$11.69 $11.69
-36.78%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$5.06 $5.06
-66.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$3.17 $3.17
-65.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$2.45 $2.45
-70.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$6.97 $6.97
-76.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$9.85 $9.85
-67.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.49 $1.49
-26.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$4.96 $4.96
-75.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$3.32 $3.32
-59.94%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$4.78 $4.78
-53.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$14.61 $14.61
-68.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$15.34 $15.34
-62.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$22.18 $22.18
-61.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$6 $6
-62.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$2.18 $2.18
-50.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$5 $5
-69.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$6.47 $6.47
-78.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$3.6 $3.6
-69.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$4.45 $4.45
-73.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$2.75 $2.75
-67.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$2.74 $2.74
-69.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$11.16 $11.16
-78.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$13.76 $13.76
-32.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.77 $1.77
-33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$3.43 $3.43
-27.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
San Mateo, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$4.37 $4.37
-81.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$66.5 $66.5
-36.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$3.54 $3.54
-60.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.93 $1.93
1.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$30.31 $30.31
-74.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.24 $1.24
-17.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$30K $30K
-41.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$26.3K $26.3K
-0.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$257 $257
-67.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$47.84 $47.84
-80.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$63.5 $63.5
-62.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$94.4 $94.4
-72.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$15.8 $15.8
-74.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$1,987 $1,987
-84.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$26K $26K
-77.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$53.8 $53.8
7.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$29.65 $29.65
6.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$86.8 $86.8
18.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$125 $125
-15.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
San Mateo, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$2,795 $2,795
-82.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$2,869 $2,869
-86.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$5,762 $5,762
-85.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$5,478 $5,478
-86.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$3,115 $3,115
-29.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$2,308 $2,308
-33.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
San Mateo, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$7,443 $7,443
-92.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.32
112.50%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Mateo, CA: October 28, 2025

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