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 $778 per month in Saint-Louis vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,264 per month in Saint-Louis vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,750 per month in Saint-Louis vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Saint-Louis is about 23% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Saint-Louis and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Saint-Louis 42% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 F CFA 1,943

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-42.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 F CFA 30.2K

$32.86 COP 117.4K

62.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.42 F CFA 5,877

$7.09 COP 25.3K

46.97%

Cappuccino

$4.51 F CFA 2,543

$1.71 COP 6,115

163.74%

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

$0.84 F CFA 475

$1.10 COP 3,924

-23.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 F CFA 594

$0.78 COP 2,781

34.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 F CFA 1,017

$1.68 COP 5,997

7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 F CFA 2,416

$3.07 COP 11.0K

39.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.57 F CFA 1,450

$1.09 COP 3,906

135.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.27 F CFA 153

$1.26 COP 4,508

-78.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 F CFA 912

$1.38 COP 4,922

17.39%

Eggs

$2.60 F CFA 1,464

$2.19 COP 7,827

18.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.60 F CFA 7,107

$4.40 COP 15.7K

186.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.22 F CFA 5,198

$5.63 COP 20.1K

63.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.95 F CFA 6,176

$8.89 COP 31.8K

23.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.82 F CFA 1,591

$2.34 COP 8,349

20.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 F CFA 1,126

$1.06 COP 3,777

88.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 F CFA 1,469

$1.50 COP 5,374

73.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 F CFA 1,164

$1.38 COP 4,924

49.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 F CFA 874

$1.15 COP 4,111

34.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 F CFA 755

$1.16 COP 4,155

15.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 F CFA 573

$0.89 COP 3,182

14.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 F CFA 408

$0.84 COP 2,997

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.64 F CFA 922

$2.28 COP 8,145

-28.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.33 F CFA 8,643

$10.64 COP 38.0K

44.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 F CFA 660

$1.20 COP 4,284

-2.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 F CFA 1,266

$2.47 COP 8,824

-9.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 F CFA 514

$1.47 COP 5,264

-38.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.78 F CFA 1,569

$1.96 COP 7,009

41.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.72 F CFA 9,996

$7.74 COP 27.6K

128.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.73 F CFA 974

$0.95 COP 3,409

82.11%

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

$36.0K F CFA 20.3M

$18.1K COP 64.7M

98.51%

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

$49.7K F CFA 28.0M

$26.5K COP 94.6M

87.75%

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

$140 F CFA 79.1K

$82.3 COP 293.7K

70.60%

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

$9.67 F CFA 5,453

$9.50 COP 33.9K

1.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.6 F CFA 28.5K

$24.23 COP 86.5K

108.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$8.93 F CFA 5,038

$3.93 COP 14.0K

127.23%

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

$265 F CFA 149.6K

$309 COP 1.1M

-14.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,357 F CFA 4.1M

$5,965 COP 21.3M

23.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.5 F CFA 39.2K

$58.7 COP 209.5K

18.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.04 F CFA 24.8K

$32.35 COP 115.5K

36.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 F CFA 58.2K

$103 COP 366.4K

0.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 F CFA 73.1K

$108 COP 387.2K

19.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 F CFA 249.7K

$476 COP 1.7M

-7.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

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)

$512 COP 1.8M

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Saint-Louis versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $270 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-Louis vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 30%, 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 $1,167 per month in Saint-Louis 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 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 43% 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 $778, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.