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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $893 in San Miguelito, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,444 in San Miguelito, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,995 in San Miguelito, rent included.

Medellin costs about 15% more than San Miguelito, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and San Miguelito are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, San Miguelito 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$9.92 PAB 9.92

-37.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$49.75 PAB 49.75

-34.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$7.97 PAB 7.97

-7.90%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$3.71 PAB 3.71

-53.64%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$1.74 PAB 1.74

-39.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$1.12 PAB 1.12

-31.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$3.07 PAB 3.07

-44.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$4.07 PAB 4.07

-22.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.80 PAB 1.80

-41.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$2.46 PAB 2.46

-47.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$2.38 PAB 2.38

-41.18%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.93 PAB 2.93

-26.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$10.05 PAB 10.05

-56.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$7.15 PAB 7.15

-17.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$10.10 PAB 10.10

-14.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$3.43 PAB 3.43

-33.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$1.54 PAB 1.54

-27.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$2.78 PAB 2.78

-44.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$3.10 PAB 3.10

-56.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$2.29 PAB 2.29

-50.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$2.83 PAB 2.83

-60.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$2.13 PAB 2.13

-60.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.50 PAB 1.50

-39.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$5.91 PAB 5.91

-60.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$10.64 PAB 10.64

16.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.24 PAB 1.24

-3.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$2.34 PAB 2.34

6.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$2.46 PAB 2.46

-42.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$1.86 PAB 1.86

3.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$22.02 PAB 22.02

-65.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$0.87 PAB 0.87

13.79%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$20.1K PAB 20.1K

-10.37%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$20.6K PAB 20.6K

29.27%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$122 PAB 122

-33.69%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$30.15 PAB 30.15

-67.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$49.98 PAB 49.98

-51.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$50.2 PAB 50.2

-49.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$8.04 PAB 8.04

-50.50%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$473 PAB 473

-35.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$15.7K PAB 15.7K

-61.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$51.4 PAB 51.4

13.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$45.37 PAB 45.37

-29.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$89.4 PAB 89.4

12.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$122 PAB 122

-11.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

6.23

115.57%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for San Miguelito: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $50.0 in San Miguelito. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $284 – 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 Miguelito: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 15%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,339 in San Miguelito. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $50.0 in San Miguelito. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 47% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Miguelito, where all-in costs run around $893, than in Medellin at $1,031. In San Miguelito it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Miguelito – 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 San Miguelito. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.