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 $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $859 in Spanish Town, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,446 in Spanish Town, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,032 in Spanish Town, rent included.

Medellin costs about 17% more than Spanish Town, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Spanish Town are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Spanish Town 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$7.69 JMD 1,210

-23.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$62.6 JMD 9,846

-47.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

$8.56 JMD 1,347

-13.20%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$4.40 JMD 692

-62.50%

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

$1.10 COP 3,514

$1.31 JMD 206

-16.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

$0.70 JMD 110

11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$2.43 JMD 382

-29.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

$3.11 JMD 488

2.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$1.92 JMD 301

-42.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$2.57 JMD 404

-50.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$0.43 JMD 67.2

220.93%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$3.04 JMD 479

-28.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$3.10 JMD 487

44.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$1.91 JMD 300

203.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$2.74 JMD 431

227.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$2.18 JMD 343

6.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$1.89 JMD 298

-43.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$1.53 JMD 241

-0.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$1.83 JMD 288

-25.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$2.12 JMD 333

-46.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$1.94 JMD 305

-39.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

$2.99 JMD 471

-69.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$0.90 JMD 142

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

$8.65 JMD 1,361

-74.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

$11.61 JMD 1,825

4.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

$1.55 JMD 244

-23.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

$2.48 JMD 389

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$1.08 JMD 169

31.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

$3.15 JMD 495

-38.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

$6.35 JMD 999

24.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$1.22 JMD 193

-18.85%

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

$43.0K JMD 6.8M

-59.07%

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

-18.55%

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

$83.0 COP 264.9K

$166 JMD 26.2K

-50.14%

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

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$22.08 JMD 3,473

-56.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$51.1 JMD 8,033

-53.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$12.93 JMD 2,034

-69.45%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

$230 JMD 36.2K

37.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

$2,516 JMD 395.8K

137.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

$26.46 JMD 4,161

126.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

$25.26 JMD 3,973

25.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

$71.6 JMD 11.3K

42.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

$77.1 JMD 12.1K

39.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$159 JMD 25.0K

198.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$123 JMD 19.3K

204.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$633 JMD 99.6K

34.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$380 JMD 59.8K

89.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$1,183 JMD 186.0K

-47.20%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Spanish Town: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $159 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 89% 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 $63.0 in Spanish Town. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $192 in Spanish Town – so Spanish Town wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 17%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,289 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 $63.0 in Spanish Town. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Spanish Town, where all-in costs run around $859, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.