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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 19.7% cheaper than Santa Cruz without rent, and 13.1% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 26.5% cheaper than Santa Cruz without rent, and 4.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$7.72 JMD 1,228
-19.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$63 JMD 10K
-48.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$8.96 JMD 1,427
-17.52%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$4.46 JMD 710
-61.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$1.32 JMD 210
-16.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.75 JMD 119
-2.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$2.49 JMD 396
-33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$3.06 JMD 487
4.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$4.23 JMD 674
-74.23%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$3.58 JMD 570
-65.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.61 JMD 256
-17.39%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$3.48 JMD 554
-36.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$11.08 JMD 1,764
-58.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$6.46 JMD 1,028
-11.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$7.85 JMD 1,250
9.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$5.83 JMD 929
-61.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$3.12 JMD 496
-65.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$4.11 JMD 654
-63.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$3 JMD 478
-52.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$2.04 JMD 325
-45.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.92 JMD 305
-38.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$3 JMD 477
-70.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$1.49 JMD 238
-43.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$8.88 JMD 1,413
-73.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$11.29 JMD 1,798
-17.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$2.75 JMD 437
-57.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$3.06 JMD 488
-18.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$1.11 JMD 177
27.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$3.11 JMD 494
-36.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$6.33 JMD 1,007
24.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.23 JMD 195
-17.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$43.5K JMD 6.9M
-59.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$34K JMD 5.4M
-23.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$164 JMD 26.1K
-49.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$22.27 JMD 3,546
-57.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$50.6 JMD 8,062
-53.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$13.35 JMD 2,126
-70.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$230 JMD 36.6K
32.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$2,493 JMD 396.8K
137.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$25.93 JMD 4,128
123.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$25.56 JMD 4,068
23.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$72.1 JMD 11.5K
43.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$77.2 JMD 12.3K
36.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Santa Cruz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$396 JMD 63K
38.99%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Santa Cruz: October 27, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.