😐A single person spends $3,333 per month in Saint Helier vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,458 per month in Saint Helier vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,584 per month in Saint Helier vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Saint Helier costs about 223% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Saint Helier sits 149% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$36.81JEP 27.39
$6.16COP 20.1K
497.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$135JEP 100
$32.60COP 106.1K
314.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.82JEP 8.05
$7.34COP 23.9K
47.41%
Cappuccino
$5.04JEP 3.75
$1.72COP 5,600
193.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25JEP 2.42
$1.05COP 3,420
209.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55JEP 1.90
$0.77COP 2,515
231.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.05JEP 5.99
$1.69COP 5,488
376.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.16JEP 6.07
$3.17COP 10.3K
157.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26JEP 1.68
$1.05COP 3,423
115.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39JEP 1.78
$1.30COP 4,236
83.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.56JEP 2.65
$1.40COP 4,544
154.29%
Eggs
$5.87JEP 4.37
$2.16COP 7,047
171.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.28JEP 6.90
$4.39COP 14.3K
111.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.59JEP 8.62
$5.88COP 19.1K
97.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.44JEP 14.46
$8.64COP 28.1K
125.00%
Apples(1kg)
$4.46JEP 3.32
$2.28COP 7,426
95.61%
Banana(1kg)
$3.25JEP 2.42
$1.11COP 3,604
192.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.32JEP 3.21
$1.53COP 4,983
182.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.30JEP 3.20
$1.35COP 4,410
218.52%
Potato(1kg)
$3.86JEP 2.87
$1.13COP 3,674
241.59%
Onion(1kg)
$3.94JEP 2.93
$1.13COP 3,692
248.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.02JEP 1.50
$0.85COP 2,753
137.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.45JEP 1.82
$0.91COP 2,975
169.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.40JEP 11.45
$2.34COP 7,630
558.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.55JEP 7.85
$12.37COP 40.3K
-14.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.58JEP 3.40
$1.20COP 3,909
281.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.60JEP 5.65
$2.49COP 8,104
205.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11JEP 2.31
$0.84COP 2,728
270.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.3JEP 50.8
$40.57COP 132.1K
68.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.02JEP 4.48
$1.42COP 4,623
323.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.80JEP 2.82
$1.92COP 6,235
97.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.75JEP 25.11
$7.66COP 24.9K
340.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.21JEP 1.65
$0.99COP 3,223
123.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KJEP 16.7K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
24.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8KJEP 25.1K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
26.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$247JEP 184
$80.8COP 263.1K
205.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.30JEP 18.82
$9.95COP 32.4K
154.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.4JEP 56.8
$24.18COP 78.7K
215.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.7JEP 51.9
$25.08COP 81.7K
178.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.72JEP 18.39
$19.15COP 62.3K
29.09%
Cinema Ticket
$21.47JEP 15.97
$3.98COP 13.0K
439.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,208JEP 1,643
$305COP 993.5K
623.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.4KJEP 13.0K
$6,059COP 19.7M
187.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108JEP 80.3
$58.1COP 189.2K
85.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.6JEP 54.7
$32.20COP 104.8K
128.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$129JEP 96.1
$101COP 327.9K
28.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$213JEP 158
$108COP 350.8K
97.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,999JEP 1,487
$477COP 1.6M
319.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,647JEP 1,225
$376COP 1.2M
337.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,867JEP 2,877
$845COP 2.7M
357.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,473JEP 2,584
$730COP 2.4M
375.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.6KJEP 8,599
$3,215COP 10.5M
259.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$10.3KJEP 7,643
$1,372COP 4.5M
648.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,665JEP 3,471
$617COP 2.0M
656.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.85
13.43
-71.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saint Helier: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,999 in Saint Helier versus $477 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 656% higher in Saint Helier, 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 $135 in Saint Helier versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $425 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 Helier vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Saint Helier?
Yes – Saint Helier is pricier by about 223%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $5,000 per month in Saint Helier and $1,546 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 Helier or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $135 in Saint Helier 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 Helier and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,333 in Saint Helier and $1,031 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 Helier or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Saint Helier at $3,333. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint Helier it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Saint Helier 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 Helier 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 Helier makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Saint Helier vs other spots: cost of living compared