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

😐 Solo nomad: San Jose is 67% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 56.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Jose is 66.9% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 55.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.95 ₡5,023
$6.14 COP 22.1K
78.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6 ₡26.9K
$33.05 COP 119.0K
77.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.24 ₡4,695
$7.32 COP 26.4K
39.89%
Cappuccino
$3.94 ₡1,809
$1.66 COP 5,972
137.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ₡950
$1.10 COP 3,977
88.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₡728
$0.78 COP 2,815
103.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.94 ₡1,349
$1.71 COP 6,173
71.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70 ₡2,156
$3.17 COP 11.4K
48.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ₡941
$1.11 COP 4,002
84.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.86 ₡1,311
$1.31 COP 4,708
118.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 ₡991
$1.38 COP 4,968
56.52%
Eggs
$2.98 ₡1,367
$2.22 COP 7,989
34.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.24 ₡4,699
$4.34 COP 15.6K
135.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.10 ₡4,173
$5.80 COP 20.9K
56.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.81 ₡6,333
$8.98 COP 32.3K
53.79%
Apples (1kg)
$4.37 ₡2,006
$2.26 COP 8,144
93.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 ₡689
$1.11 COP 4,013
35.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.38 ₡2,011
$1.46 COP 5,271
200.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.46 ₡1,586
$1.37 COP 4,917
152.55%
Potato (1kg)
$3.54 ₡1,624
$1.11 COP 3,999
218.92%
Onion (1kg)
$3.22 ₡1,477
$1.16 COP 4,189
177.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 ₡445
$0.89 COP 3,203
8.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.89 ₡1,327
$0.87 COP 3,116
232.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.15 ₡2,361
$2.35 COP 8,474
119.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.98 ₡10.1K
$10.86 COP 39.1K
102.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 ₡1,143
$1.20 COP 4,319
107.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ₡1,306
$2.48 COP 8,924
14.92%
🚌 Getting Around
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 ₡474
$0.79 COP 2,835
30.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.58 ₡18.6K
$40.77 COP 146.8K
-0.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.87 ₡859
$1.42 COP 5,124
31.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.81 ₡829
$1.91 COP 6,883
-5.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.12 ₡3,724
$7.65 COP 27.5K
6.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ₡663
$0.97 COP 3,481
48.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K ₡17.5M
$18.1K COP 65.2M
110.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K ₡14.9M
$26.3K COP 94.7M
23.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$93.4 ₡42.8K
$81.3 COP 292.8K
14.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.89 ₡11.9K
$9.63 COP 34.7K
168.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.5 ₡27.3K
$24.36 COP 87.7K
144.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.6 ₡26.4K
$26.02 COP 93.7K
121.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.80 ₡17.8K
$18.92 COP 68.1K
105.07%
Cinema Ticket
$9.78 ₡4,484
$3.89 COP 14.0K
151.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$559 ₡256.5K
$304 COP 1.1M
83.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡5.9M
$5,902 COP 21.3M
117.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.9 ₡28.4K
$58.7 COP 211.3K
5.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.1 ₡23.5K
$32.48 COP 117.0K
57.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 ₡56.7K
$102 COP 366.4K
21.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 ₡48.5K
$108 COP 389.5K
-2.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$885 ₡405.9K
$474 COP 1.7M
86.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$540 ₡247.6K
$371 COP 1.3M
45.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,438 ₡659.8K
$848 COP 3.1M
69.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,038 ₡475.9K
$716 COP 2.6M
44.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,292 ₡1.1M
$2,871 COP 10.3M
-20.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,773 ₡813.1K
$1,375 COP 5.0M
28.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Jose
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,007 ₡461.8K
$542 COP 1.9M
85.93%
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: April 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

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

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