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 $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $838 in Spanish Town, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,404 in Spanish Town, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,970 in Spanish Town, rent included.

Medellin costs about 21% more than Spanish Town, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Spanish Town are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Spanish Town 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$7.30 JMD 1,149

-18.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$61.6 JMD 9,679

-45.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$8.52 JMD 1,340

-15.14%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$4.44 JMD 699

-63.29%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$1.33 JMD 208

-18.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.76 JMD 120

-3.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.57 JMD 404

-32.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$3.18 JMD 500

1.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.90 JMD 299

-44.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$2.58 JMD 405

-50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.42 JMD 66.3

214.29%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$3.22 JMD 507

-29.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$3.14 JMD 494

38.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$1.98 JMD 311

196.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$2.80 JMD 440

207.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.21 JMD 347

1.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.85 JMD 291

-42.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.60 JMD 252

-5.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.83 JMD 287

-22.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$2.11 JMD 332

-44.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.93 JMD 304

-39.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$2.97 JMD 468

-70.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.92 JMD 144

-2.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$8.76 JMD 1,377

-74.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$11.40 JMD 1,793

-3.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.55 JMD 243

-26.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.47 JMD 389

-3.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.13 JMD 178

24.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$3.24 JMD 509

-41.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$6.33 JMD 995

22.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.28 JMD 201

-21.09%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$42.2K JMD 6.6M

-58.38%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

-22.19%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$162 JMD 25.5K

-48.33%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$21.92 JMD 3,448

-56.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$50.8 JMD 7,982

-52.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$13.21 JMD 2,078

-68.96%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$226 JMD 35.6K

37.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$2,483 JMD 390.4K

141.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$26.33 JMD 4,141

120.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$25.43 JMD 4,000

28.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$72.4 JMD 11.4K

37.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$77.2 JMD 12.1K

40.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$156 JMD 24.5K

209.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$123 JMD 19.4K

207.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$616 JMD 97.0K

35.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$376 JMD 59.1K

92.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$1,160 JMD 182.5K

-53.39%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Spanish Town: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 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 115% 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 $193 – 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 21%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,257 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 2% 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 $838, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.