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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 60.2% cheaper than San Rafael, CA without rent, and 77.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 55.3% cheaper than San Rafael, CA without rent, and 68.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
San Rafael, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$22.73 $22.73
-72.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$64.9 $64.9
-50.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$11.05 $11.05
-33.12%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$5.77 $5.77
-70.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$2.6 $2.6
-57.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$2.56 $2.56
-71.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$5.94 $5.94
-72.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$9.47 $9.47
-66.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
San Rafael, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.27 $1.27
-14.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$3.96 $3.96
-68.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$6.91 $6.91
-80.75%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$4.54 $4.54
-51.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$15.52 $15.52
-70.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$12.85 $12.85
-55.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$18.39 $18.39
-53.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$4.98 $4.98
-54.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$2.91 $2.91
-63.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$6.18 $6.18
-75.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$8.42 $8.42
-83.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$3.76 $3.76
-70.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$3.79 $3.79
-68.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$2.5 $2.5
-64.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$2.96 $2.96
-71.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$10.81 $10.81
-78.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$12.59 $12.59
-25.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$2.1 $2.1
-43.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$3.49 $3.49
-28.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
San Rafael, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$1.53 $1.53
-45.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$30.14 $30.14
39.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$3.59 $3.59
-60.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.65 $1.65
18.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$28.66 $28.66
-72.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.23 $1.23
-17.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$27K $27K
-34.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$27.1K $27.1K
-3.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
San Rafael, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$187 $187
-55.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$51.3 $51.3
-81.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$61.6 $61.6
-61.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
San Rafael, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$247 $247
-89.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$39.9 $39.9
-52.03%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$14.71 $14.71
-73.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
San Rafael, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$1,967 $1,967
-84.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$23.6K $23.6K
-74.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
San Rafael, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$41.12 $41.12
40.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$37.89 $37.89
-16.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$101 $101
1.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$122 $122
-13.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
San Rafael, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$3,340 $3,340
-85.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$2,833 $2,833
-86.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$4,080 $4,080
-79.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$3,280 $3,280
-77.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$7,615 $7,615
-71.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$5,279 $5,279
-70.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
San Rafael, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$5,319 $5,319
-89.66%
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 Rafael, CA: October 28, 2025

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