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 $1,198 per month in Saint George's vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,978 per month in Saint George's vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,758 per month in Saint George's vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Saint George's costs about 18% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Saint George's and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Saint George's 11% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.32 EC$19.78
$5.95 COP 20.8K
23.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$113 EC$304
$33.33 COP 116.3K
237.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.46 EC$22.83
$7.23 COP 25.2K
17.01%
Cappuccino
$4.46 EC$12.05
$1.63 COP 5,687
173.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 EC$4.91
$1.09 COP 3,821
66.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 EC$4.13
$0.73 COP 2,548
109.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.03 EC$5.47
$1.74 COP 6,065
16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77 EC$10.18
$3.23 COP 11.3K
16.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.95 EC$10.67
$1.05 COP 3,662
276.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.73 EC$4.68
$1.29 COP 4,515
34.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 EC$5.08
$1.32 COP 4,617
42.42%
Eggs
$4.01 EC$10.82
$2.27 COP 7,927
76.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.03 EC$27.09
$4.35 COP 15.2K
130.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.86 EC$15.82
$5.88 COP 20.5K
-0.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.34 EC$27.93
$8.61 COP 30.0K
20.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.69 EC$7.25
$2.25 COP 7,844
19.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 EC$4.89
$1.07 COP 3,733
69.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 EC$4.57
$1.52 COP 5,322
11.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.04 EC$8.22
$1.42 COP 4,964
114.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 EC$4.30
$1.17 COP 4,084
35.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 EC$4.30
$1.17 COP 4,077
35.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 EC$3.42
$0.89 COP 3,096
42.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 EC$3.63
$0.90 COP 3,146
48.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.86 EC$5.03
$2.25 COP 7,837
-17.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.65 EC$17.97
$11.04 COP 38.5K
-39.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 EC$4.88
$1.14 COP 3,977
58.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 EC$4.95
$2.38 COP 8,301
-23.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 EC$3.03
$0.84 COP 2,916
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.69 EC$102
$41.95 COP 146.4K
-10.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$22.49 EC$60.7
$1.41 COP 4,912
1495.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.90 COP 6,634
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$7.75 COP 27.0K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 EC$3.75
$1.01 COP 3,509
37.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K EC$68.7K
$17.6K COP 61.4M
44.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K EC$82.7K
$26.5K COP 92.5M
15.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 EC$566
$83.7 COP 292.1K
150.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.69 EC$50.5
$9.45 COP 33.0K
97.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.71 EC$126
$24.11 COP 84.1K
93.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.80 EC$99.4
$25.31 COP 88.3K
45.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.87 EC$50.9
$19.14 COP 66.8K
-1.41%
Cinema Ticket
$11.25 EC$30.36
$4.10 COP 14.3K
174.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$56.5 EC$152
$312 COP 1.1M
-81.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,321 EC$6,268
$5,993 COP 20.9M
-61.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.77 EC$69.6
$58.0 COP 202.6K
-55.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38 EC$120
$32.56 COP 113.6K
36.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$42.53 EC$115
$99.6 COP 347.7K
-57.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.8 EC$207
$109 COP 378.8K
-29.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$574 EC$1,549
$482 COP 1.7M
18.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$292 EC$789
$379 COP 1.3M
-22.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,109 EC$2,995
$837 COP 2.9M
32.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$528 EC$1,426
$723 COP 2.5M
-26.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$399 EC$1,077
$2,840 COP 9.9M
-85.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$112.3K EC$303.2K
$1,223 COP 4.3M
9080.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint George's
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$927 EC$2,504
$541 COP 1.9M
71.44%
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $574 in Saint George's versus $482 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 71% 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: $272 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 18%, 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 $1,797 per month in Saint George's and $1,525 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 $1,198 in Saint George's and $1,017 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 $1,017, than in Saint George's at $1,198. 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