Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint-Louis and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint-Louis and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $783 per month in Saint-Louis vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,274 per month in Saint-Louis vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,765 per month in Saint-Louis vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Saint-Louis is about 24% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Saint-Louis and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Saint-Louis 41% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.48 F CFA 1,996

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-43.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 F CFA 30.4K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

62.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.20 F CFA 5,848

$7.34 COP 23.9K

38.96%

Cappuccino

$4.59 F CFA 2,633

$1.72 COP 5,600

166.86%

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

$0.92 F CFA 529

$1.05 COP 3,420

-12.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 F CFA 606

$0.77 COP 2,515

37.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 F CFA 1,037

$1.69 COP 5,488

7.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 F CFA 2,565

$3.17 COP 10.3K

41.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.64 F CFA 1,513

$1.05 COP 3,423

151.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.27 F CFA 156

$1.30 COP 4,236

-79.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 F CFA 917

$1.40 COP 4,544

14.29%

Eggs

$2.71 F CFA 1,554

$2.16 COP 7,047

25.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.92 F CFA 7,409

$4.39 COP 14.3K

194.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.08 F CFA 5,209

$5.88 COP 19.1K

54.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 F CFA 6,272

$8.64 COP 28.1K

26.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 F CFA 1,571

$2.28 COP 7,426

20.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 F CFA 1,090

$1.11 COP 3,604

71.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 F CFA 1,492

$1.53 COP 4,983

69.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 F CFA 1,193

$1.35 COP 4,410

54.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 F CFA 857

$1.13 COP 3,674

31.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 F CFA 773

$1.13 COP 3,692

19.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 F CFA 587

$0.85 COP 2,753

20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 F CFA 390

$0.91 COP 2,975

-25.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.55 F CFA 887

$2.34 COP 7,630

-33.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.11 F CFA 9,816

$12.37 COP 40.3K

38.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 F CFA 684

$1.20 COP 3,909

-0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 F CFA 1,337

$2.49 COP 8,104

-6.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,728

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 F CFA 527

$1.42 COP 4,623

-35.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.85 F CFA 1,633

$1.92 COP 6,235

48.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.70 F CFA 10.2K

$7.66 COP 24.9K

131.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.80 F CFA 1,030

$0.99 COP 3,223

81.82%

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

$36.0K F CFA 20.6M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

99.69%

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

$50.3K F CFA 28.8M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

88.81%

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

$140 F CFA 80.0K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

72.70%

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

$9.72 F CFA 5,576

$9.95 COP 32.4K

-2.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.1 F CFA 28.7K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

107.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$9.06 F CFA 5,194

$3.98 COP 13.0K

127.64%

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

$267 F CFA 152.9K

$305 COP 993.5K

-12.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,248 F CFA 4.2M

$6,059 COP 19.7M

19.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.6 F CFA 38.8K

$58.1 COP 189.2K

16.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.90 F CFA 25.2K

$32.20 COP 104.8K

36.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 F CFA 59.0K

$101 COP 327.9K

2.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 F CFA 73.6K

$108 COP 350.8K

19.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 F CFA 254.0K

$477 COP 1.6M

-7.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.25

13.43

-38.57%

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

Last update for Saint-Louis: July 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $443 in Saint-Louis 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Saint-Louis versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 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-Louis vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 32%, 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 $1,174 per month in Saint-Louis and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Saint-Louis, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Saint-Louis and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 42% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Saint-Louis, where all-in costs run around $783, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Saint-Louis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Saint-Louis – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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