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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 52.1% cheaper than Santa Cruz, CA without rent, and 76.4% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 59% cheaper than Santa Cruz, CA without rent, and 72.4% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.23 COP 26K

$22.44 $22.44

-72.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 COP 134.8K

$79.7 $79.7

-59.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.39 COP 30.8K

$12.36 $12.36

-40.21%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 7,155

$5.85 $5.85

-70.60%

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

$1.1 COP 4,575

$3.41 $3.41

-67.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 3,060

$2.54 $2.54

-71.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.66 COP 6,916

$6.93 $6.93

-76.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.2 COP 13.3K

$7.46 $7.46

-57.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 4,552

$1.43 $1.43

-23.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 COP 5,188

$5.16 $5.16

-75.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 COP 5,544

$6.65 $6.65

-80.00%

Eggs

$2.22 COP 9,252

$5.96 $5.96

-62.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.55 COP 19K

$23.24 $23.24

-80.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.71 COP 23.8K

$14.85 $14.85

-61.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.59 COP 35.8K

$23.7 $23.7

-63.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 COP 9,410

$7.05 $7.05

-67.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 4,461

$2.78 $2.78

-61.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 6,293

$5.32 $5.32

-71.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 5,911

$7.49 $7.49

-81.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,619

$3.88 $3.88

-71.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,932

$3.93 $3.93

-69.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,718

$2.9 $2.9

-69.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 3,507

$2.86 $2.86

-70.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 9,809

$14.16 $14.16

-83.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.34 COP 38.9K

$12.02 $12.02

-22.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 COP 4,927

$2.15 $2.15

-45.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 10.4K

$2.67 $2.67

-6.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 COP 3,464

$2.05 $2.05

-59.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.9 COP 174.7K

$65.2 $65.2

-35.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 5,899

$4.09 $4.09

-65.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 8,164

$1.93 $1.93

1.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 COP 32.7K

$38.9 $38.9

-79.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 COP 4,265

$1.24 $1.24

-17.74%

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

$17.6K COP 73.4M

$34.9K $34.9K

-49.58%

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

$26.2K COP 109.2M

$26.5K $26.5K

-0.98%

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

$82.5 COP 344.1K

$221 $221

-62.62%

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

$9.44 COP 39.4K

$47.05 $47.05

-79.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.51 COP 98K

$67.8 $67.8

-65.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.68 COP 107.1K

$60.2 $60.2

-57.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 79.8K

Cinema Ticket

$3.96 COP 16.5K

$17.04 $17.04

-76.76%

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

$305 COP 1.3M

$3,225 $3,225

-90.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,925 COP 24.7M

$38.5K $38.5K

-84.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 241.4K

$63.2 $63.2

-8.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.59 COP 131.7K

$46.64 $46.64

-32.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 430.1K

$79.3 $79.3

30.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 COP 440.5K

$115 $115

-8.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 COP 2M

$2,893 $2,893

-83.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.6M

$2,648 $2,648

-85.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 COP 3.4M

$5,700 $5,700

-85.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$729 COP 3M

$4,219 $4,219

-82.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,190 COP 9.1M

$9,235 $9,235

-76.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 COP 6.4M

$8,116 $8,116

-81.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$550 COP 2.3M

$5,594 $5,594

-90.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

6.36

111.16%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Santa Cruz, CA: October 27, 2025

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