😐A single person spends $3,457 per month in Saint Helier vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,153 per month in Saint Helier vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $6,849 per month in Saint Helier vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Saint Helier costs about 101% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Saint Helier and Medellin sit above the global median – Saint Helier by 152%, Medellin by 25%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$40.89JEP 30.22
$8.03COP 25.3K
409.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123JEP 90.8
$48.26COP 152.0K
154.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.65JEP 7.87
$9.77COP 30.8K
9.01%
Cappuccino
$4.85JEP 3.58
$2.91COP 9,167
66.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29JEP 2.43
$1.94COP 6,122
69.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56JEP 1.89
$1.52COP 4,792
68.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.94JEP 5.86
$3.09COP 9,740
156.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.56JEP 4.85
$5.74COP 18.1K
14.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22JEP 1.64
$1.36COP 4,296
63.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.87JEP 2.12
$2.39COP 7,519
20.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.84JEP 2.84
$1.70COP 5,356
125.88%
Eggs
$6.30JEP 4.66
$2.87COP 9,038
119.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.26JEP 5.37
$9.94COP 31.3K
-26.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.09JEP 8.93
$10.78COP 34.0K
12.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.02JEP 14.06
$14.73COP 46.4K
29.12%
Apples(1kg)
$4.21JEP 3.11
$4.09COP 12.9K
2.93%
Banana(1kg)
$3.57JEP 2.64
$1.57COP 4,950
127.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.26JEP 3.15
$2.13COP 6,695
100.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.46JEP 3.30
$2.21COP 6,972
101.81%
Potato(1kg)
$3.22JEP 2.38
$2.05COP 6,447
57.07%
Onion(1kg)
$3.11JEP 2.30
$1.50COP 4,737
107.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.85JEP 1.37
$1.19COP 3,747
55.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.61JEP 1.93
$1.16COP 3,647
125.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.18JEP 14.91
$3.90COP 12.3K
417.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.66JEP 7.88
$14.44COP 45.5K
-26.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.70JEP 3.47
$1.58COP 4,987
197.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84JEP 5.79
$2.83COP 8,905
177.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.45JEP 2.55
$1.17COP 3,679
194.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.3JEP 51.2
$77.7COP 244.8K
-10.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.46JEP 4.03
$1.28COP 4,045
326.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.50JEP 1.85
$2.09COP 6,589
19.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$54.9JEP 40.58
$8.62COP 27.1K
537.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06JEP 1.52
$1.30COP 4,088
58.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0KJEP 20.0K
$27.7KCOP 87.1M
-2.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.4KJEP 27.6K
$35.5KCOP 111.8M
5.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$322JEP 238
$176COP 554.5K
82.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.56JEP 34.41
$13.37COP 42.1K
248.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.0JEP 55.4
$29.89COP 94.1K
150.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$77.2JEP 57.1
$44.76COP 141.0K
72.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.70JEP 21.21
$17.06COP 53.7K
68.23%
Cinema Ticket
$20.60JEP 15.22
$6.20COP 19.5K
232.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,295JEP 1,696
$793COP 2.5M
189.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.4KJEP 9,155
$9,019COP 28.4M
37.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$107JEP 79.2
$85.6COP 269.6K
25.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.5JEP 54.3
$58.5COP 184.1K
25.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121JEP 89.5
$136COP 429.3K
-11.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$210JEP 155
$103COP 324.7K
103.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,913JEP 1,413
$1,060COP 3.3M
80.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,629JEP 1,204
$680COP 2.1M
139.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,419JEP 2,527
$2,012COP 6.3M
69.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,814JEP 2,079
$1,169COP 3.7M
140.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$11.8KJEP 8,749
$4,111COP 12.9M
187.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$10.6KJEP 7,867
$1,701COP 5.4M
525.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint Helier
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,680JEP 3,458
$665COP 2.1M
603.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.08
10.94
-62.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saint Helier: August 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,913 in Saint Helier versus $1,060 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 603% 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 $123 in Saint Helier versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $428 vs $303 – 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 101%, 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 $5,186 per month in Saint Helier and $2,574 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 $123 in Saint Helier and $48.00 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 $3,457 in Saint Helier and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Saint Helier or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Saint Helier at $3,457. 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