Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Spanish Town Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Spanish Town

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $861 in Spanish Town, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,433 in Spanish Town, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,005 in Spanish Town, rent included.

Medellin costs about 20% more than Spanish Town, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Spanish Town are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Spanish Town 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.5K

$7.35 JMD 1,158

-19.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 119.1K

$62.3 JMD 9,809

-47.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.2K

$8.78 JMD 1,383

-18.00%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,186

$4.47 JMD 704

-61.97%

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

$1.10 COP 3,996

$1.30 JMD 205

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,625

$0.75 JMD 118

-4.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,067

$2.57 JMD 406

-35.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.3K

$3.11 JMD 490

-0.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,837

$1.85 JMD 291

-42.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,531

$2.67 JMD 421

-53.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,060

$0.45 JMD 71.1

208.89%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,229

$3.22 JMD 507

-29.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.8K

$3.19 JMD 503

35.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.2K

$1.99 JMD 314

193.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 32.1K

$2.79 JMD 439

216.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,159

$2.24 JMD 353

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,911

$1.87 JMD 294

-42.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,563

$1.53 JMD 242

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,987

$1.94 JMD 305

-29.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,109

$2.12 JMD 333

-46.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,067

$1.99 JMD 314

-43.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,080

$3.02 JMD 476

-71.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,305

$0.91 JMD 144

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,477

$8.91 JMD 1,404

-73.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.5K

$11.36 JMD 1,789

-2.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,342

$1.54 JMD 242

-22.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,617

$2.47 JMD 388

-4.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,859

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 149.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,223

$1.11 JMD 175

29.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,952

$3.27 JMD 514

-41.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 29.2K

$6.28 JMD 988

27.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,410

$1.28 JMD 202

-26.56%

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

$17.9K COP 65.2M

$42.7K JMD 6.7M

-58.00%

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

$26.8K COP 97.4M

$34.0K JMD 5.3M

-21.10%

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

$84.0 COP 305.4K

$161 JMD 25.3K

-47.83%

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

$9.60 COP 34.9K

$22.23 JMD 3,501

-56.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.9K

$50.1 JMD 7,882

-51.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 94.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 69.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.2K

$13.11 JMD 2,064

-70.10%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$225 JMD 35.4K

36.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.5M

$2,457 JMD 386.9K

140.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 210.6K

$25.73 JMD 4,052

125.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 115.7K

$25.06 JMD 3,947

26.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 363.3K

$70.5 JMD 11.1K

41.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 389.7K

$77.7 JMD 12.2K

37.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$156 JMD 24.5K

212.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$128 JMD 20.1K

188.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$638 JMD 100.5K

29.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$373 JMD 58.8K

91.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$1,166 JMD 183.7K

-53.23%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Spanish Town: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $156 in Spanish Town. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 114% higher in Spanish Town, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $62.0 in Spanish Town. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $195 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Spanish Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,292 in Spanish Town. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Spanish Town, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $62.0 in Spanish Town. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Spanish Town, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Spanish Town it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Spanish Town – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Spanish Town. 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.