😐A single person spends $2,339 per month in Saint Andrews vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,384 per month in Saint Andrews vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,430 per month in Saint Andrews vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Saint Andrews costs about 131% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Saint Andrews sits 75% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Andrews
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.96CA$23.59
$5.99COP 21.3K
183.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.1CA$98.8
$32.86COP 116.9K
116.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.86CA$15.10
$7.09COP 25.2K
53.17%
Cappuccino
$3.86CA$5.37
$1.71COP 6,093
125.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04CA$2.84
$1.10COP 3,910
85.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71CA$2.38
$0.78COP 2,771
119.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.63CA$7.82
$1.68COP 5,976
235.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.82CA$8.10
$3.07COP 10.9K
89.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Andrews
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.21CA$3.07
$1.09COP 3,892
102.75%
White Bread(500g)
$2.70CA$3.75
$1.26COP 4,492
114.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.53CA$4.92
$1.38COP 4,905
155.80%
Eggs
$3.50CA$4.87
$2.19COP 7,799
59.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.99CA$15.29
$4.40COP 15.7K
149.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.61CA$16.14
$5.63COP 20.0K
106.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.56CA$20.25
$8.89COP 31.6K
63.78%
Apples(1kg)
$4.17CA$5.80
$2.34COP 8,319
78.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43CA$1.99
$1.06COP 3,764
34.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.65CA$5.08
$1.50COP 5,355
143.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.87CA$5.38
$1.38COP 4,906
180.43%
Potato(1kg)
$2.48CA$3.44
$1.15COP 4,097
115.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.50CA$3.48
$1.16COP 4,141
115.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.50CA$3.47
$0.89COP 3,170
180.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.77CA$2.46
$0.84COP 2,986
110.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.75CA$19.12
$2.28COP 8,116
503.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.56CA$18.86
$10.64COP 37.9K
27.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86CA$3.97
$1.20COP 4,268
138.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17CA$4.41
$2.47COP 8,793
28.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Andrews
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.41CA$3.35
$0.86COP 3,045
180.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.3CA$88.0
$41.40COP 147.3K
52.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.08CA$4.29
$1.47COP 5,245
109.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.44CA$2.00
$1.96COP 6,984
-26.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.98CA$36.12
$7.74COP 27.5K
235.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15CA$1.60
$0.95COP 3,397
21.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KCA$34.9K
$18.1KCOP 64.5M
38.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9KCA$29.1K
$26.5KCOP 94.2M
-20.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Andrews
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$140CA$195
$82.3COP 292.7K
70.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.27CA$61.6
$9.50COP 33.8K
366.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.0CA$86.2
$24.23COP 86.2K
155.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Andrews
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.38CA$58.9
$25.89COP 92.1K
63.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00COP 67.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.25CA$15.65
$3.93COP 14.0K
186.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Andrews
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$750CA$1,043
$309COP 1.1M
142.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6KCA$16.2K
$5,965COP 21.2M
94.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Andrews
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0CA$76.5
$58.7COP 208.7K
-6.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.25CA$54.6
$32.35COP 115.1K
21.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.3CA$120
$103COP 365.1K
-15.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106CA$147
$108COP 385.8K
-2.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Andrews
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,319CA$1,834
$476COP 1.7M
176.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,193CA$1,659
$379COP 1.3M
214.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,004CA$2,786
$838COP 3.0M
139.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,789CA$2,487
$724COP 2.6M
147.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,939CA$6,869
$2,791COP 9.9M
76.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,447CA$4,793
$1,211COP 4.3M
184.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Andrews
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$512COP 1.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.46
13.43
-51.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saint Andrews: June 2, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,319 in Saint Andrews versus $476 in Medellin. 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 $71.0 in Saint Andrews versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $367 vs $188 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Saint Andrews vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Saint Andrews?
Yes – Saint Andrews is pricier by about 131%, 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 $3,508 per month in Saint Andrews and $1,519 in Medellin. 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Saint Andrews or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Saint Andrews and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Saint Andrews vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,339 in Saint Andrews and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Saint Andrews or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Saint Andrews at $2,339. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Andrews it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Saint Andrews or Medellin 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint Andrews makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Saint Andrews vs other spots: cost of living compared