Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint George's and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint George's and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,222 per month in Saint George's vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,023 per month in Saint George's vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,823 per month in Saint George's vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Saint George's costs about 22% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Saint George's and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Saint George's 8% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.46 EC$20.13
$5.91 COP 18.6K
26.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110 EC$297
$32.96 COP 103.8K
234.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.14 EC$21.98
$7.43 COP 23.4K
9.56%
Cappuccino
$4.42 EC$11.93
$1.65 COP 5,207
167.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 EC$4.91
$1.10 COP 3,468
65.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 EC$4.18
$0.78 COP 2,458
98.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.99 EC$5.38
$1.72 COP 5,412
15.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 EC$10.23
$3.18 COP 10.0K
19.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.98 EC$10.74
$1.10 COP 3,474
261.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.66 EC$4.47
$1.26 COP 3,962
31.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 EC$5.37
$1.38 COP 4,349
44.20%
Eggs
$3.97 EC$10.71
$2.18 COP 6,858
82.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.92 EC$26.79
$4.49 COP 14.1K
120.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.90 EC$15.94
$5.79 COP 18.2K
1.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.29 EC$27.79
$8.97 COP 28.2K
14.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 EC$7.37
$2.32 COP 7,308
17.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 EC$4.92
$1.06 COP 3,352
71.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.72 EC$4.65
$1.52 COP 4,774
13.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.89 EC$7.81
$1.36 COP 4,270
112.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 EC$4.33
$1.13 COP 3,552
41.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.53 EC$4.14
$1.17 COP 3,689
30.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 EC$3.57
$0.90 COP 2,838
46.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 EC$3.58
$0.90 COP 2,823
47.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.87 EC$5.06
$2.23 COP 7,034
-16.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.45 EC$17.41
$12.12 COP 38.2K
-46.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 EC$4.92
$1.19 COP 3,743
52.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 EC$5.05
$2.48 COP 7,815
-24.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.10 EC$2.97
$0.85 COP 2,687
29.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.49 EC$101
$41.62 COP 131.0K
-9.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$22.16 EC$59.8
$1.42 COP 4,459
1460.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.95 COP 6,141
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$7.89 COP 24.8K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 EC$3.71
$0.99 COP 3,118
38.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K EC$67.0K
$17.6K COP 55.4M
40.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K EC$80.1K
$26.8K COP 84.4M
10.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$209 EC$564
$83.0 COP 261.4K
151.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.27 EC$49.32
$9.70 COP 30.5K
88.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.53 EC$128
$23.52 COP 74.1K
102.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.46 EC$101
$25.26 COP 79.5K
48.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.36 EC$49.57
$19.10 COP 60.1K
-3.87%
Cinema Ticket
$11.09 EC$29.94
$3.95 COP 12.4K
180.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$54.9 EC$148
$316 COP 994.2K
-82.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,360 EC$6,371
$5,975 COP 18.8M
-60.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.12 EC$70.5
$60.0 COP 188.9K
-56.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.91 EC$119
$31.82 COP 100.2K
37.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$43.35 EC$117
$102 COP 320.1K
-57.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.6 EC$204
$107 COP 338.3K
-29.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$568 EC$1,535
$475 COP 1.5M
19.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 EC$775
$374 COP 1.2M
-23.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,126 EC$3,041
$849 COP 2.7M
32.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$528 EC$1,425
$719 COP 2.3M
-26.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$401 EC$1,084
$3,265 COP 10.3M
-87.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$109.0K EC$294.2K
$1,441 COP 4.5M
7464.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$933 EC$2,519
$624 COP 2.0M
49.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.33
13.43
-52.87%

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

Last update for Saint George's: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $568 in Saint George's versus $475 in Medellin. 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 49% higher in Saint George's, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $110 in Saint George's versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 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
Saint George's vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Saint George's?
Yes – Saint George's is pricier by about 22%, 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 $1,832 per month in Saint George's and $1,504 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 George's or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $110 in Saint George's 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 George's and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,222 in Saint George's and $1,003 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 living in Saint George's or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Saint George's at $1,222. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint George's it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Saint George's 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 safer, Saint George's or Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
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 George's makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Saint George's vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities