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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $1,496 in San Salvador, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $2,211 in San Salvador, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,925 in San Salvador, rent included.

Medellin is about 31% cheaper than San Salvador, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while San Salvador is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.2K

$8.01 $8.01

-26.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.17 COP 118.7K

$35.37 $35.37

-6.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.25 COP 25.9K

$6.91 $6.91

4.92%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,137

$3.24 $3.24

-47.22%

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

$1.09 COP 3,915

$1.10 $1.10

-0.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,743

$0.87 $0.87

-11.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 COP 6,254

$1.96 $1.96

-10.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 11.4K

$2.94 $2.94

8.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,792

$1.80 $1.80

-41.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,657

$1.99 $1.99

-34.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,926

$1.48 $1.48

-6.76%

Eggs

$2.21 COP 7,908

$2.88 $2.88

-23.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 COP 16.2K

$7.02 $7.02

-35.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 COP 20.7K

$6.51 $6.51

-10.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 32.1K

$10.73 $10.73

-16.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 COP 8,182

$3.26 $3.26

-29.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,791

$1.73 $1.73

-38.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 5,411

$2.63 $2.63

-42.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,869

$2.65 $2.65

-48.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,146

$2.25 $2.25

-48.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,174

$2.20 $2.20

-46.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 COP 2,960

$0.95 $0.95

-12.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 COP 3,043

$1.02 $1.02

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 8,423

$3.95 $3.95

-40.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.09 COP 39.7K

$10.95 $10.95

1.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 4,133

$1.71 $1.71

-32.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,853

$2.49 $2.49

-0.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,827

$0.37 $0.37

113.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.85 COP 149.8K

$24.51 $24.51

70.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,140

$5.63 $5.63

-74.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,793

$3.01 $3.01

-36.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 COP 27.6K

$19.90 $19.90

-61.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 COP 3,680

$1.00 $1.00

3.00%

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

$17.7K COP 63.3M

$26.0K $26.0K

-31.95%

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

$27.0K COP 96.7M

$28.0K $28.0K

-3.44%

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

$81.4 COP 291.4K

$104 $104

-21.67%

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

$9.42 COP 33.7K

$18.89 $18.89

-50.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.77 COP 85.1K

$42.11 $42.11

-43.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.86 COP 92.6K

$31.65 $31.65

-18.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 COP 69.2K

$20.34 $20.34

-4.92%

Cinema Ticket

$4.05 COP 14.5K

$5.29 $5.29

-23.44%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$147 $147

112.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,067 COP 21.7M

$5,975 $5,975

1.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 COP 210.7K

$68.0 $68.0

-13.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.82 COP 117.5K

$43.13 $43.13

-23.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 COP 359.6K

$118 $118

-14.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 COP 380.3K

$104 $104

1.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 COP 1.8M

$844 $844

-42.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

$709 $709

-47.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$1,464 $1,464

-42.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$715 COP 2.6M

$1,110 $1,110

-35.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,952 COP 10.6M

$2,830 $2,830

4.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,394 COP 5.0M

$1,835 $1,835

-24.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$532 COP 1.9M

$376 $376

41.55%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for San Salvador: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $844 in San Salvador. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 42% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33 in Medellin versus $35 in San Salvador. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $254 – 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 Salvador: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – San Salvador is pricier by about 45%, 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 $1,544 per month in Medellin and $2,244 in San Salvador. 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 $35.00 in San Salvador. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,030 in Medellin and $1,496 in San Salvador. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,030, than in San Salvador at $1,496. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Salvador 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 Salvador makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.