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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 31.2% cheaper than Santa Cruz without rent, and 14.5% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 18.8% cheaper than Santa Cruz without rent, and 7.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.7K
$7.66 JMD 1,198
-21.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 124.8K
$62.9 JMD 9,834
-47.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.4K
$8.65 JMD 1,354
-15.72%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,133
$4.33 JMD 677
-62.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,947
$1.37 JMD 215
-23.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,899
$0.70 JMD 109
10.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,510
$2.55 JMD 400
-32.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$3.17 JMD 496
0.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,015
$4.41 JMD 689
-75.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,935
$3.59 JMD 561
-63.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,195
$1.57 JMD 245
-12.10%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,457
$3.53 JMD 552
-36.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 16.9K
$10.97 JMD 1,716
-59.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.6K
$6.45 JMD 1,009
-11.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.3K
$7.85 JMD 1,228
12.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,438
$6.11 JMD 956
-63.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,988
$3.09 JMD 483
-65.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,697
$4.25 JMD 665
-64.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,119
$2.96 JMD 464
-54.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,218
$2.09 JMD 327
-46.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,400
$2.01 JMD 315
-41.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,395
$2.97 JMD 464
-69.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,150
$1.44 JMD 225
-41.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,501
$8.54 JMD 1,336
-73.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.5K
$11.28 JMD 1,765
-11.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,451
$2.81 JMD 439
-58.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 8,993
$3.19 JMD 499
-25.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,233
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 156.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,521
$1.07 JMD 167
37.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,323
$3.24 JMD 507
-39.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.2K
$6.39 JMD 1,000
21.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,640
$1.28 JMD 201
-24.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 67.5M
$43.4K JMD 6.8M
-58.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 100.6M
$32.9K JMD 5.2M
-18.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 305.2K
$160 JMD 25.1K
-49.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.4K
$21.79 JMD 3,408
-56.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 88.8K
$50.4 JMD 7,889
-53.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 72.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.4K
$13.25 JMD 2,072
-69.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$227 JMD 35.5K
34.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.2M
$2,440 JMD 381.7K
141.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 225.1K
$26.36 JMD 4,122
126.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 120.3K
$25.86 JMD 4,045
23.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 386.5K
$71.3 JMD 11.1K
44.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 405.9K
$75.4 JMD 11.8K
43.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
-
-
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
$401 JMD 62.7K
34.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
9.15
46.78%

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 2, 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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