Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $5,829 per month in Saint John Island vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,948 per month in Saint John Island vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $10.1K per month in Saint John Island vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Saint John Island costs about 476% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Saint John Island sits 335% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.96 $30.96

$5.99 COP 21.4K

416.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$147 $147

$32.86 COP 117.4K

348.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.88 $14.88

$7.09 COP 25.3K

109.87%

Cappuccino

$8.87 $8.87

$1.71 COP 6,115

418.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 $3.55

$1.10 COP 3,924

222.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 $3.47

$0.78 COP 2,781

344.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.12 $5.12

$1.68 COP 5,997

204.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.88 $6.88

$3.07 COP 11.0K

124.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.08 $3.08

$1.09 COP 3,906

182.57%

White Bread (500g)

$7.88 $7.88

$1.26 COP 4,508

525.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$12.18 $12.18

$1.38 COP 4,922

782.61%

Eggs

$11.90 $11.90

$2.19 COP 7,827

443.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.26 $32.26

$4.40 COP 15.7K

633.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.64 $32.64

$5.63 COP 20.1K

479.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.18 $24.18

$8.89 COP 31.8K

171.99%

Apples (1kg)

$21.87 $21.87

$2.34 COP 8,349

834.62%

Banana (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$1.06 COP 3,777

284.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$17.54 $17.54

$1.50 COP 5,374

1069.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$11.92 $11.92

$1.38 COP 4,924

763.77%

Potato (1kg)

$7.53 $7.53

$1.15 COP 4,111

554.78%

Onion (1kg)

$7.59 $7.59

$1.16 COP 4,155

554.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.88 $4.88

$0.89 COP 3,182

448.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 $3.44

$0.84 COP 2,997

309.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.24 $9.24

$2.28 COP 8,145

305.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.16 $23.16

$10.64 COP 38.0K

117.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.48 $4.48

$1.20 COP 4,284

273.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.04 $6.04

$2.47 COP 8,824

144.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.12 $7.12

$0.86 COP 3,056

727.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$151 $151

$41.40 COP 147.9K

263.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$30.30 $30.30

$1.47 COP 5,264

1961.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 $1.58

$0.95 COP 3,409

66.32%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$47.1K $47.1K

$18.1K COP 64.7M

159.83%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$53.2K $53.2K

$26.5K COP 94.6M

101.00%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$298 $298

$82.3 COP 293.7K

261.81%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$100 $100

$9.50 COP 33.9K

952.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$102 $102

$24.23 COP 86.5K

320.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.3 $80.3

$58.7 COP 209.5K

36.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.6 $50.6

$32.35 COP 115.5K

56.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.7 $85.7

$103 COP 366.4K

-16.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.6 $99.6

$108 COP 387.2K

-8.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,934 $3,934

$476 COP 1.7M

726.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,471 $3,471

$379 COP 1.4M

816.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,904 $4,904

$838 COP 3.0M

485.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,533 $4,533

$724 COP 2.6M

526.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,505 $4,505

$512 COP 1.8M

780.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-47.88%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Saint John Island: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,934 in Saint John Island 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 780% higher in Saint John Island, 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 $147 in Saint John Island versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $981 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 John Island vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Saint John Island is pricier by about 476%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $8,743 per month in Saint John Island and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 264% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 421% more in Saint John Island, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Saint John Island at $5,829. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saint John Island it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saint John Island makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.