Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and St Lawrence

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $3,179 in St Lawrence, rent and utilities included – about $18,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
St Lawrence, Jersey
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
St Lawrence
🇯🇪 Jersey
$3,179
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in St Lawrence

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in St Lawrence actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $3,179 in St Lawrence, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • St Lawrence $3,179

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $5,207 in St Lawrence, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • St Lawrence $5,207

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $7,234 in St Lawrence, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • St Lawrence $7,234

Medellin is about 48% cheaper than St Lawrence, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and St Lawrence sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, St Lawrence by 134%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
St Lawrence
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$40.12 JEP 29.97
-79.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.7K
$118 JEP 88.2
-60.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.6K
$10.70 JEP 7.99
-11.21%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,722
$4.92 JEP 3.67
-38.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,801
$3.38 JEP 2.52
-46.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,554
$2.45 JEP 1.83
-42.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.2K
$8.24 JEP 6.16
-61.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.5K
$6.42 JEP 4.79
-10.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
St Lawrence
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,869
$2.24 JEP 1.68
-32.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,667
$2.77 JEP 2.07
-14.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,712
$2.62 JEP 1.96
-32.44%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,320
$5.60 JEP 4.18
-48.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$7.09 JEP 5.30
43.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.8K
$12.12 JEP 9.06
-18.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.1K
$18.43 JEP 13.77
-24.09%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$4.19 JEP 3.13
-5.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,005
$3.51 JEP 2.62
-55.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,039
$4.24 JEP 3.17
-48.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,041
$4.46 JEP 3.33
-51.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,328
$3.29 JEP 2.45
-40.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,125
$3.13 JEP 2.34
-49.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,694
$1.88 JEP 1.40
-38.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,009
$2.53 JEP 1.89
-50.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
$19.95 JEP 14.90
-80.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.1K
$10.51 JEP 7.85
30.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,352
$4.78 JEP 3.57
-65.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,281
$7.55 JEP 5.64
-70.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
St Lawrence
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,766
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,089
$5.37 JEP 4.01
-76.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,603
$2.44 JEP 1.82
-15.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
$52.7 JEP 39.36
-83.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,343
$2.13 JEP 1.59
-36.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 109.8M
$26.7K JEP 19.9K
27.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.8M
$37.2K JEP 27.8K
-6.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
St Lawrence
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.0K
$319 JEP 238
-46.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.7K
$34.29 JEP 25.62
-60.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.5K
$74.0 JEP 55.3
-62.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
St Lawrence
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 140.9K
$93.3 JEP 69.7
-53.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
$20.22 JEP 15.10
-65.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
St Lawrence
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$838 JEP 626
-4.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
$11.8K JEP 8,827
-22.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
St Lawrence
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.2K
$105 JEP 78.5
-19.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 186.9K
$74.4 JEP 55.6
-22.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.2K
$122 JEP 90.8
11.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 315.6K
$210 JEP 157
-53.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
St Lawrence
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$1,765 JEP 1,319
-31.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$1,466 JEP 1,095
-56.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$3,932 JEP 2,937
-48.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$3,393 JEP 2,535
-70.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
St Lawrence
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
4.08
168.14%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for St Lawrence: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
St Lawrence
$1.5K 129% $824
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
St Lawrence
$416 39.9% $119
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
St Lawrence
$427 102% $216
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
St Lawrence
$489 189% $320
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
St Lawrence
$230 36% $61
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
St Lawrence
$18 * 81.2% $76
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
St Lawrence
$134 132% $76

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $1,765 in St Lawrence. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $118 in St Lawrence. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $416 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇯🇪 St Lawrence
🕒 Local time
09:36 9:36 AM
14:36 2:36 PM
5 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
5,500
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JEP, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 3,224 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,600 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

Jersey Pound exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 0.747 JEP (1 JEP = 1.34 USD). 1 EUR = 0.834 JEP (1 JEP = 1.2 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin St Lawrence 8,280 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • St Lawrence

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 St Lawrence: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than St Lawrence?
Yes – St Lawrence is pricier by about 94%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $4,768 in St Lawrence. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,208 there versus $1,765 in St Lawrence.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in St Lawrence?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $118 in St Lawrence. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in St Lawrence?
Groceries cost about 40% more in St Lawrence, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in St Lawrence?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,639, than in St Lawrence at $3,179. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in St Lawrence it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or St Lawrence more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

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