😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $89.3 in Say'un, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $149 in Say'un, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $209 in Say'un, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 1783% more than Say'un, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Say'un is 93% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Say'un
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.5K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,941
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,061
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,796
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,921
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Say'un
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,590
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,898
$1.07YER 253
132.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,634
$2.26YER 534
-21.68%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,400
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$2.22YER 524
86.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,109
$2.22YER 525
-27.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,132
$2.25YER 532
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,154
$2.14YER 506
5.14%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,489
$2.14YER 506
-4.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,876
$2.26YER 535
-31.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,716
$1.02YER 242
14.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,150
$1.01YER 239
29.70%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.40YER 332
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,536
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,116
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Say'un
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,860
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,157
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,947
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,336
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Say'un
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 563.1K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Say'un
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.6K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Say'un
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Say'un
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.3K
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.3K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 439.0K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.4K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Say'un
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Say'un
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Say'un: September 13, 2026
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Medellin vs Say'un: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Say'un cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 1783%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $134 in Say'un. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Say'un?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $89.3 in Say'un. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Say'un?
Groceries cost about 234% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Say'un?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Say'un, where all-in costs run around $89.3, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Say'un it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Say'un more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Say'un – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Say'un. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.