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

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Medellin is 19.5% cheaper than San Salvador without rent, and 34.3% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Medellin is 20.4% cheaper than San Salvador without rent, and 27.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
San Salvador
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COPΒ 26K
$7.81 $7.81
-20.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COPΒ 134.8K
$35.66 $35.66
-9.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COPΒ 30.8K
$7.08 $7.08
4.38%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COPΒ 7,155
$3.17 $3.17
-45.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COPΒ 4,575
$1.14 $1.14
-3.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COPΒ 3,060
$0.85 $0.85
-14.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COPΒ 6,916
$2.03 $2.03
-18.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COPΒ 13.3K
$2.98 $2.98
7.38%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
San Salvador
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 4,552
$1.85 $1.85
-41.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COPΒ 5,188
$1.99 $1.99
-37.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COPΒ 5,544
$1.56 $1.56
-14.74%
Eggs
$2.22 COPΒ 9,252
$2.89 $2.89
-23.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COPΒ 19K
$6.87 $6.87
-33.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COPΒ 23.8K
$6.81 $6.81
-16.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COPΒ 35.8K
$10.93 $10.93
-21.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COPΒ 9,410
$3.25 $3.25
-30.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COPΒ 4,461
$1.67 $1.67
-35.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COPΒ 6,293
$2.51 $2.51
-39.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COPΒ 5,911
$2.62 $2.62
-45.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COPΒ 4,619
$2.18 $2.18
-49.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COPΒ 4,932
$2.21 $2.21
-46.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,718
$0.97 $0.97
-8.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 3,507
$1.07 $1.07
-21.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COPΒ 9,809
$3.96 $3.96
-40.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COPΒ 38.9K
$10.17 $10.17
-8.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COPΒ 4,927
$1.69 $1.69
-30.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COPΒ 10.4K
$2.4 $2.4
3.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
San Salvador
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COPΒ 3,464
$0.33 $0.33
151.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COPΒ 174.7K
$25.29 $25.29
65.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COPΒ 5,899
$5.6 $5.6
-74.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 8,164
$3.11 $3.11
-36.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COPΒ 32.7K
$19.89 $19.89
-60.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COPΒ 4,265
$0.99 $0.99
3.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COPΒ 73.4M
$25.5K $25.5K
-31.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COPΒ 109.2M
$28.4K $28.4K
-7.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
San Salvador
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COPΒ 344.1K
$102 $102
-19.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COPΒ 39.4K
$18.87 $18.87
-49.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COPΒ 98K
$40.93 $40.93
-42.56%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
San Salvador
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COPΒ 107.1K
$31.61 $31.61
-18.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COPΒ 79.8K
$20.23 $20.23
-5.39%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COPΒ 16.5K
$5.37 $5.37
-26.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
San Salvador
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COPΒ 1.3M
$145 $145
110.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COPΒ 24.7M
$5,967 $5,967
-0.70%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
San Salvador
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COPΒ 241.4K
$66.4 $66.4
-12.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COPΒ 131.7K
$42.93 $42.93
-26.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 430.1K
$115 $115
-10.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COPΒ 440.5K
$105 $105
0.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
San Salvador
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COPΒ 2M
$845 $845
-42.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.6M
$708 $708
-46.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COPΒ 3.4M
$1,465 $1,465
-43.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COPΒ 3M
$1,097 $1,097
-33.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COPΒ 9.1M
$2,369 $2,369
-7.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COPΒ 6.4M
$1,793 $1,793
-14.52%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
San Salvador
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COPΒ 2.3M
$385 $385
42.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
8.58
56.53%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for San Salvador: October 28, 2025

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