Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Santa Barbara, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Santa Barbara, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 56.5% cheaper than Santa Barbara, CA without rent, and 73.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 51% cheaper than Santa Barbara, CA without rent, and 73% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$24.82 $24.82
-74.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$100 $100
-67.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$10.17 $10.17
-27.34%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$5.62 $5.62
-69.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$2.73 $2.73
-59.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$2.1 $2.1
-65.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$8.16 $8.16
-79.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$9.1 $9.1
-64.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.3 $1.3
-16.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$4.89 $4.89
-74.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$4.83 $4.83
-72.46%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$5.43 $5.43
-59.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$12.51 $12.51
-63.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$11.62 $11.62
-50.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$14.26 $14.26
-39.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$6.24 $6.24
-63.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.91 $1.91
-43.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$3.84 $3.84
-60.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$5.35 $5.35
-73.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$3.31 $3.31
-66.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$3.04 $3.04
-61.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$2.18 $2.18
-59.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$2.02 $2.02
-58.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$13.02 $13.02
-81.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$15.26 $15.26
-38.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.76 $1.76
-32.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$4.07 $4.07
-38.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$1.8 $1.8
-53.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$65.2 $65.2
-35.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$5.82 $5.82
-75.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$2 $2
-2.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$50.9 $50.9
-84.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.22 $1.22
-16.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$28.5K $28.5K
-38.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$25.5K $25.5K
2.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$201 $201
-58.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$54.1 $54.1
-82.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$72.4 $72.4
-67.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$66.1 $66.1
-61.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$18.29 $18.29
4.65%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$12.64 $12.64
-68.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$1,445 $1,445
-78.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$37.3K $37.3K
-84.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$68.4 $68.4
-15.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$41.33 $41.33
-23.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$77.7 $77.7
32.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$146 $146
-27.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$2,643 $2,643
-81.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$2,296 $2,296
-83.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$5,146 $5,146
-83.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$4,439 $4,439
-83.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$10.4K $10.4K
-78.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$9,888 $9,888
-84.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$5,242 $5,242
-89.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.68
101.05%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Santa Barbara, CA: October 29, 2025

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