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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 65.3% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 58.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 68.9% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 63% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.76 ₡5,385
$6.23 COP 26K
72.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59 ₡29.5K
$32.34 COP 134.8K
82.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.85 ₡4,931
$7.39 COP 30.8K
33.29%
Cappuccino
$3.88 ₡1,942
$1.72 COP 7,155
125.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 ₡983
$1.1 COP 4,575
78.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡794
$0.73 COP 3,060
117.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 ₡1,522
$1.66 COP 6,916
83.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59 ₡2,300
$3.2 COP 13.3K
43.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ₡1,013
$1.09 COP 4,552
85.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.88 ₡1,443
$1.24 COP 5,188
132.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡1,067
$1.33 COP 5,544
60.15%
Eggs
$2.94 ₡1,472
$2.22 COP 9,252
32.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 ₡4,852
$4.55 COP 19K
112.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.22 ₡4,617
$5.71 COP 23.8K
61.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.64 ₡6,831
$8.59 COP 35.8K
58.79%
Apples (1kg)
$4.47 ₡2,238
$2.26 COP 9,410
97.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₡728
$1.07 COP 4,461
35.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,192
$1.51 COP 6,293
190.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,779
$1.42 COP 5,911
150.00%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 ₡1,777
$1.11 COP 4,619
219.82%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 ₡1,628
$1.18 COP 4,932
175.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₡519
$0.89 COP 3,718
16.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.8 ₡1,403
$0.84 COP 3,507
233.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 ₡2,716
$2.35 COP 9,809
131.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.98 ₡9,503
$9.34 COP 38.9K
103.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₡1,205
$1.18 COP 4,927
104.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₡1,461
$2.49 COP 10.4K
17.27%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1 ₡501
$0.83 COP 3,464
20.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.57 ₡20.8K
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-0.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₡939
$1.41 COP 5,899
33.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 ₡930
$1.96 COP 8,164
-5.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.8 ₡3,904
$7.85 COP 32.7K
-0.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.4 ₡699
$1.02 COP 4,265
37.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K ₡18.9M
$17.6K COP 73.4M
114.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K ₡16.4M
$26.2K COP 109.2M
24.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ₡46.5K
$82.5 COP 344.1K
12.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.98 ₡13K
$9.44 COP 39.4K
175.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 ₡30.1K
$23.51 COP 98K
156.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.2 ₡28.2K
$25.68 COP 107.1K
119.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.51 ₡19.3K
$19.14 COP 79.8K
101.20%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89 ₡4,953
$3.96 COP 16.5K
149.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$567 ₡283.6K
$305 COP 1.3M
85.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡6.4M
$5,925 COP 24.7M
116.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 ₡31.8K
$57.9 COP 241.4K
9.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 ₡25.4K
$31.59 COP 131.7K
60.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 ₡62.6K
$103 COP 430.1K
21.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₡53.7K
$106 COP 440.5K
1.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$865 ₡433K
$489 COP 2M
76.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$536 ₡268.3K
$379 COP 1.6M
41.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,427 ₡714.5K
$827 COP 3.4M
72.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 ₡517.9K
$729 COP 3M
41.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,869 ₡1.4M
$2,190 COP 9.1M
31.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 ₡849.3K
$1,532 COP 6.4M
10.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$996 ₡498.4K
$550 COP 2.3M
81.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
13.43
-24.27%

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

Last update for San Jose: October 29, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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