🙂A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $2,523 in Santa Anna, TX, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $3,739 in Santa Anna, TX, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $4,955 in Santa Anna, TX, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 33% cheaper than Santa Anna, TX, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Santa Anna, TX sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Santa Anna, TX by 84%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Santa Anna, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.3K
$21.60$21.60
-62.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 151.0K
$67.5$67.5
-29.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.2K
$10.01$10.01
-1.20%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,873
$5.15$5.15
-39.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,019
$2.41$2.41
-20.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,763
$1.71$1.71
-11.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,853
$5.92$5.92
-47.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.1K
$7.46$7.46
-22.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Santa Anna, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,558
$1.01$1.01
42.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,843
$3.41$3.41
-26.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,595
$4.27$4.27
-58.55%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,336
$4.24$4.24
-30.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.8K
$12.45$12.45
-19.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.9K
$11.34$11.34
-10.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.1K
$16.99$16.99
-15.83%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.0K
$4.70$4.70
-11.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,073
$1.84$1.84
-12.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,083
$4.82$4.82
-53.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,104
$4.68$4.68
-51.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,444
$2.73$2.73
-25.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,842
$2.93$2.93
-47.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,691
$2.09$2.09
-44.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,121
$2.29$2.29
-42.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.3K
$9.95$9.95
-60.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.2K
$15.45$15.45
-9.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,498
$2.02$2.02
-13.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,053
$3.42$3.42
-16.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Santa Anna, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,834
$2.29$2.29
-46.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 253.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,129
$3.26$3.26
-59.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,899
$1.47$1.47
48.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.5K
$28.44$28.44
-69.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,306
$0.97$0.97
41.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
$38.7K$38.7K
-28.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
$28.1K$28.1K
27.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Santa Anna, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 559.3K
$197$197
-10.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.8K
$57.2$57.2
-75.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 93.8K
$68.0$68.0
-56.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Santa Anna, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 141.6K
$42.08$42.08
6.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.0K
$14.28$14.28
-53.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Santa Anna, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$1,212$1,212
-32.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.0M
$25.9K$25.9K
-64.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Santa Anna, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 282.3K
$44.79$44.79
99.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 186.0K
$40.34$40.34
46.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 435.9K
$87.9$87.9
57.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 322.1K
$110$110
-7.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Santa Anna, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$1,578$1,578
-32.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$1,294$1,294
-48.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$2,530$2,530
-25.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$2,116$2,116
-51.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.2M
$2,863$2,863
46.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$2,059$2,059
-18.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Santa Anna, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.12
78.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Santa Anna, TX: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $1,578 in Santa Anna, TX. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $67.0 in Santa Anna, TX. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $398 – 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 Santa Anna, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Anna, TX cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Santa Anna, TX is pricier by about 50%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $3,784 in Santa Anna, TX. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Santa Anna, TX?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $67.0 in Santa Anna, TX. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Santa Anna, TX?
Groceries cost about 31% more in Santa Anna, TX, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Santa Anna, TX?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Santa Anna, TX at $2,523. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Anna, TX it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Santa Anna, TX more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Santa Anna, TX?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Anna, TX makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.