Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Santa Cruz Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Santa Cruz

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 51.5% cheaper than Santa Cruz without rent, and 45.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 43% cheaper than Santa Cruz without rent, and 45.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.8K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 125.6K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.6K
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,170
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,971
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,916
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,550
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,040
$2.20 AWG 3.93
-51.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,965
$2.65 AWG 4.74
-50.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,227
$4.46 AWG 7.98
-69.06%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,509
$4.71 AWG 8.43
-52.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 17.0K
$7.92 AWG 14.17
-43.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.7K
$7.55 AWG 13.52
-23.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.6K
$6.54 AWG 11.71
35.47%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,490
$4.47 AWG 7.99
-49.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 4,012
$4.54 AWG 8.12
-76.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,732
$8.22 AWG 14.72
-81.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,151
$6.66 AWG 11.92
-79.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,244
$6.87 AWG 12.29
-83.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,427
$1.96 AWG 3.51
-40.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,416
$2.98 AWG 5.33
-69.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,169
$4.31 AWG 7.72
-80.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,553
$10.15 AWG 18.17
-77.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.8K
$19.50 AWG 34.91
-48.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,479
$2.49 AWG 4.45
-52.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 9,048
$3.14 AWG 5.61
-23.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,253
$1.97 AWG 3.53
-56.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 156.9K
$155 AWG 278
-73.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,555
$19.67 AWG 35.21
-92.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,367
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.4K
$19.69 AWG 35.24
-60.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,663
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 68.0M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 101.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 307.1K
$141 AWG 252
-42.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.6K
$73.1 AWG 131
-87.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 89.4K
$205 AWG 367
-88.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.7K
$69.9 AWG 125
-63.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 73.0K
$46.61 AWG 83.4
-58.61%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.5K
$8.17 AWG 14.62
-49.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$136 AWG 244
124.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 226.5K
$77.9 AWG 139
-23.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 121.0K
$113 AWG 202
-71.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 388.8K
$140 AWG 251
-26.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 408.4K
$138 AWG 247
-21.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$1,259 AWG 2,254
-61.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$555 AWG 994
-32.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$1,548 AWG 2,771
-46.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$1,373 AWG 2,458
-47.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$3,653 AWG 6,539
-85.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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