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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 55.9% cheaper than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 77.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 56% cheaper than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 78.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$25.29 $25.29
-75.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$99.5 $99.5
-67.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$12.3 $12.3
-39.92%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$5.68 $5.68
-69.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$2.88 $2.88
-61.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$2.3 $2.3
-68.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$8.59 $8.59
-80.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$9.32 $9.32
-65.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.18 $1.18
-7.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$4.45 $4.45
-72.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$4.49 $4.49
-70.38%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$7.19 $7.19
-69.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$12.47 $12.47
-63.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$13.7 $13.7
-58.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$14.46 $14.46
-40.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$5.37 $5.37
-57.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.95 $1.95
-45.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$3.97 $3.97
-61.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$5.73 $5.73
-75.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$2.98 $2.98
-62.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$2.45 $2.45
-51.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.82 $1.82
-51.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$2.12 $2.12
-60.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$10.83 $10.83
-78.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$15.28 $15.28
-38.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$2.53 $2.53
-53.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$5.34 $5.34
-53.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$2.08 $2.08
-60.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$81.5 $81.5
-48.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$3.15 $3.15
-55.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.71 $1.71
14.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$29.08 $29.08
-73.01%
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
$23.8K $23.8K
-26.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$25.5K $25.5K
2.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$190 $190
-56.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$58.4 $58.4
-83.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$67 $67
-64.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$122 $122
-79.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$44.73 $44.73
-57.21%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$18.03 $18.03
-78.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$1,791 $1,791
-82.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$14.7K $14.7K
-59.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$62.8 $62.8
-7.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$34.08 $34.08
-7.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$102 $102
1.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$153 $153
-30.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$3,279 $3,279
-85.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$2,892 $2,892
-86.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$6,850 $6,850
-87.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$5,897 $5,897
-87.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$10.8K $10.8K
-79.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$8,171 $8,171
-81.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Santa Monica, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$7,229 $7,229
-92.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.49
106.93%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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

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