Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose, CA and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose, CA and Medellin

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose, CA is 147.3% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 329.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose, CA is 157.4% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 283.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose, CA
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.48 $20.48
$6.03 COP 22.9K
239.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$33.17 COP 125.7K
204.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.66 $11.66
$7.29 COP 27.6K
59.95%
Cappuccino
$5.85 $5.85
$1.63 COP 6,174
258.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 $3.20
$1.05 COP 3,974
204.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$0.77 COP 2,918
222.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.82 $8.82
$1.73 COP 6,554
409.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.94 $10.94
$3.18 COP 12.0K
244.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose, CA
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 $1.41
$1.07 COP 4,043
31.78%
White Bread (500g)
$5.01 $5.01
$1.31 COP 4,968
282.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$1.38 COP 5,230
139.86%
Eggs
$4.80 $4.80
$2.25 COP 8,515
113.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21.28 $21.28
$4.48 COP 17.0K
375.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.69 $15.69
$5.74 COP 21.7K
173.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.51 $22.51
$8.86 COP 33.6K
154.06%
Apples (1kg)
$6.06 $6.06
$2.24 COP 8,496
170.54%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$1.06 COP 4,015
141.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.00 $5.00
$1.51 COP 5,736
231.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.44 $6.44
$1.36 COP 5,154
373.53%
Potato (1kg)
$3.43 $3.43
$1.12 COP 4,247
206.25%
Onion (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$1.17 COP 4,430
282.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.96 $2.96
$0.90 COP 3,418
228.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 $2.90
$0.84 COP 3,171
245.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.06 $11.06
$2.26 COP 8,559
389.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.84 $14.84
$9.97 COP 37.8K
48.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 $2.32
$1.18 COP 4,482
96.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 $3.47
$2.39 COP 9,054
45.19%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose, CA
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.52 $2.52
$0.86 COP 3,255
193.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.1 $91.1
$41.45 COP 157.1K
119.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.53 $3.53
$1.47 COP 5,559
140.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.95 COP 7,372
-5.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.59 $30.59
$7.76 COP 29.4K
294.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$0.97 COP 3,665
30.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K $29.4K
$17.9K COP 68.0M
63.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K $26.7K
$26.7K COP 101.2M
0.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose, CA
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$294 $294
$81.1 COP 307.3K
261.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.63 $48.63
$9.40 COP 35.6K
417.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.1 $69.1
$23.61 COP 89.4K
192.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose, CA
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$125 $125
$25.55 COP 96.8K
390.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.46 $30.46
$19.29 COP 73.1K
57.91%
Cinema Ticket
$15.63 $15.63
$4.10 COP 15.5K
281.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose, CA
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,978 $1,978
$306 COP 1.2M
546.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.5K $26.5K
$5,899 COP 22.3M
348.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose, CA
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0 $53.0
$59.8 COP 226.6K
-11.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.59 $43.59
$31.96 COP 121.1K
36.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.0 $89.0
$103 COP 389.1K
-13.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 $138
$108 COP 408.7K
28.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose, CA
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,055 $3,055
$483 COP 1.8M
532.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,711 $2,711
$377 COP 1.4M
618.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,223 $5,223
$822 COP 3.1M
535.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,634 $4,634
$721 COP 2.7M
542.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,163 $9,163
$2,784 COP 10.5M
229.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,844 $9,844
$1,320 COP 5.0M
645.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose, CA
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,685 $5,685
$538 COP 2.0M
957.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
13.43
-51.53%

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

Last update for San Jose, CA: March 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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