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 $1,226 per month in Saint George's vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,020 per month in Saint George's vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,813 per month in Saint George's vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Saint George's costs about 19% 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 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.23 EC$19.52
$5.92 COP 21.4K
22.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$113 EC$304
$32.75 COP 118.2K
243.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.13 EC$21.94
$7.20 COP 26.0K
12.92%
Cappuccino
$4.50 EC$12.14
$1.70 COP 6,140
164.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 EC$4.88
$1.10 COP 3,966
64.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 EC$4.29
$0.72 COP 2,605
120.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.03 EC$5.47
$1.67 COP 6,022
21.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 EC$9.75
$3.10 COP 11.2K
16.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.82 EC$10.32
$1.06 COP 3,809
260.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.65 EC$4.45
$1.25 COP 4,497
32.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 EC$5.18
$1.39 COP 5,022
38.13%
Eggs
$4.15 EC$11.22
$2.26 COP 8,168
83.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 EC$27.15
$4.33 COP 15.6K
132.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 EC$15.26
$5.84 COP 21.1K
-3.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.39 EC$28.04
$8.83 COP 31.9K
17.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.58 EC$6.96
$2.24 COP 8,099
15.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 EC$5.02
$1.08 COP 3,882
72.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 EC$4.79
$1.53 COP 5,522
15.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.02 EC$8.16
$1.37 COP 4,950
120.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.58 EC$4.26
$1.13 COP 4,078
39.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.52 EC$4.09
$1.12 COP 4,036
35.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 EC$3.41
$0.85 COP 3,057
48.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 EC$3.72
$0.91 COP 3,281
51.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90 EC$5.14
$2.33 COP 8,414
-18.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.35 EC$17.15
$11.13 COP 40.2K
-42.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 EC$4.93
$1.19 COP 4,309
53.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 EC$4.90
$2.37 COP 8,553
-23.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.08 EC$2.92
$0.79 COP 2,838
36.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.50 EC$101
$41.13 COP 148.5K
-8.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$22.48 EC$60.7
$1.44 COP 5,184
1461.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.91 COP 6,901
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.02 COP 28.9K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 EC$3.68
$0.94 COP 3,385
44.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K EC$66.3K
$17.9K COP 64.7M
36.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K EC$81.3K
$26.8K COP 96.7M
12.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$207 EC$558
$84.0 COP 303.1K
146.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.56 EC$50.1
$9.60 COP 34.7K
93.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.26 EC$128
$24.16 COP 87.2K
95.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.45 EC$98.4
$25.88 COP 93.4K
40.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.77 EC$50.7
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-1.42%
Cinema Ticket
$10.99 EC$29.68
$3.92 COP 14.1K
180.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$55.7 EC$150
$306 COP 1.1M
-81.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,290 EC$6,182
$5,919 COP 21.4M
-61.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.64 EC$69.2
$57.9 COP 209.1K
-55.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.26 EC$120
$31.82 COP 114.9K
39.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$42.16 EC$114
$99.9 COP 360.6K
-57.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.9 EC$208
$107 COP 386.8K
-28.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$583 EC$1,574
$487 COP 1.8M
19.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$286 EC$771
$368 COP 1.3M
-22.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,128 EC$3,045
$826 COP 3.0M
36.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$524 EC$1,414
$716 COP 2.6M
-26.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$397 EC$1,073
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-86.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$109.8K EC$296.5K
$1,407 COP 5.1M
7705.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$923 EC$2,493
$546 COP 2.0M
69.25%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $583 in Saint George's versus $487 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 69% 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 $113 in Saint George's versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $270 vs $190 – 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 19%, 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 $1,839 per month in Saint George's and $1,550 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 Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $113 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,226 in Saint George's and $1,034 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 George's or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Saint George's at $1,226. 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.

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