😐A single person spends $3,315 per month in Saint Helier vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,404 per month in Saint Helier vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,493 per month in Saint Helier vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Saint Helier costs about 227% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Saint Helier sits 147% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$37.77JEP 28.06
$5.99COP 21.4K
530.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$138JEP 103
$32.86COP 117.4K
321.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.01JEP 8.18
$7.09COP 25.3K
55.29%
Cappuccino
$5.11JEP 3.80
$1.71COP 6,115
198.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15JEP 2.34
$1.10COP 3,924
186.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57JEP 1.91
$0.78COP 2,781
229.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.24JEP 6.12
$1.68COP 5,997
390.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.37JEP 6.22
$3.07COP 11.0K
172.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.24JEP 1.67
$1.09COP 3,906
105.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.31JEP 1.72
$1.26COP 4,508
83.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.44JEP 2.56
$1.38COP 4,922
149.28%
Eggs
$5.98JEP 4.44
$2.19COP 7,827
173.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.25JEP 6.87
$4.40COP 15.7K
110.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.69JEP 8.69
$5.63COP 20.1K
107.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.10JEP 14.19
$8.89COP 31.8K
114.85%
Apples(1kg)
$4.35JEP 3.24
$2.34COP 8,349
85.90%
Banana(1kg)
$3.16JEP 2.35
$1.06COP 3,777
198.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.31JEP 3.20
$1.50COP 5,374
187.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.15JEP 3.08
$1.38COP 4,924
200.72%
Potato(1kg)
$4.05JEP 3.01
$1.15COP 4,111
252.17%
Onion(1kg)
$3.92JEP 2.91
$1.16COP 4,155
237.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.04JEP 1.52
$0.89COP 3,182
129.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.45JEP 1.82
$0.84COP 2,997
191.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.74JEP 11.70
$2.28COP 8,145
590.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.62JEP 7.89
$10.64COP 38.0K
-0.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.51JEP 3.35
$1.20COP 4,284
275.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.35JEP 5.46
$2.47COP 8,824
197.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.05JEP 2.27
$0.86COP 3,056
254.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.2JEP 51.4
$41.40COP 147.9K
67.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.26JEP 4.65
$1.47COP 5,264
325.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.92JEP 2.91
$1.96COP 7,009
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.52JEP 24.90
$7.74COP 27.6K
333.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.17JEP 1.61
$0.95COP 3,409
128.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6KJEP 16.8K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
24.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3KJEP 24.7K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
25.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$242JEP 180
$82.3COP 293.7K
194.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.99JEP 18.57
$9.50COP 33.9K
163.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.0JEP 55.7
$24.23COP 86.5K
209.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.0JEP 51.3
$25.89COP 92.4K
166.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.09JEP 18.64
$19.00COP 67.9K
32.05%
Cinema Ticket
$21.07JEP 15.66
$3.93COP 14.0K
436.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,217JEP 1,647
$309COP 1.1M
616.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.3KJEP 12.9K
$5,965COP 21.3M
190.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$109JEP 80.8
$58.7COP 209.5K
85.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$71.7JEP 53.3
$32.35COP 115.5K
121.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$129JEP 95.8
$103COP 366.4K
25.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$215JEP 160
$108COP 387.2K
98.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,030JEP 1,508
$476COP 1.7M
326.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,650JEP 1,226
$379COP 1.4M
335.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,871JEP 2,876
$838COP 3.0M
361.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,538JEP 2,629
$724COP 2.6M
388.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.9KJEP 8,831
$2,791COP 10.0M
325.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$10.4KJEP 7,759
$1,211COP 4.3M
762.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,831JEP 3,590
$512COP 1.8M
844.00%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,030 in Saint Helier 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.
💰Salaries run about 844% 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 $138 in Saint Helier versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $421 vs $188 – 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 227%, 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 $4,972 per month in Saint Helier 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 Helier or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $138 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,315 in Saint Helier 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 Helier or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Saint Helier at $3,315. 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