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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $607 per month in San Juan vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $996 per month in San Juan vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,384 per month in San Juan vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

San Juan is about 41% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both San Juan and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – San Juan 55% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.85 ARS 8,646

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-5.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.44 ARS 43.5K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-9.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 ARS 11.6K

$7.34 COP 23.9K

7.36%

Cappuccino

$1.54 ARS 2,278

$1.72 COP 5,600

-10.47%

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

$0.96 ARS 1,417

$1.05 COP 3,420

-8.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 ARS 1,341

$0.77 COP 2,515

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.94 ARS 2,875

$1.69 COP 5,488

14.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 ARS 4,402

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-5.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 ARS 1,055

$1.05 COP 3,423

-32.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 ARS 975

$1.30 COP 4,236

-49.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 ARS 1,828

$1.40 COP 4,544

-11.43%

Eggs

$1.74 ARS 2,568

$2.16 COP 7,047

-19.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.34 ARS 4,940

$4.39 COP 14.3K

-23.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 ARS 5,157

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-40.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.09 ARS 6,047

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-52.66%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 ARS 2,186

$2.28 COP 7,426

-35.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,260

$1.11 COP 3,604

37.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 ARS 2,272

$1.53 COP 4,983

0.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 ARS 3,173

$1.35 COP 4,410

59.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 ARS 943

$1.13 COP 3,674

-43.36%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 ARS 916

$1.13 COP 3,692

-45.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 ARS 570

$0.85 COP 2,753

-54.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ARS 1,272

$0.91 COP 2,975

-5.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.78 ARS 2,626

$2.34 COP 7,630

-23.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.91 ARS 7,253

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-60.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 ARS 2,184

$1.20 COP 3,909

23.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ARS 2,727

$2.49 COP 8,104

-26.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ARS 427

$0.84 COP 2,728

-65.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.10 ARS 7,537

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-87.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 ARS 609

$1.42 COP 4,623

-71.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ARS 1,522

$1.92 COP 6,235

-46.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.99 ARS 7,381

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-34.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ARS 1,634

$0.99 COP 3,223

12.12%

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

$31.6K ARS 46.6M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

75.03%

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

$21.0K ARS 31.1M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-20.97%

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

$77.7 ARS 114.9K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-3.82%

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

$5.10 ARS 7,544

$9.95 COP 32.4K

-48.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.17 ARS 15.0K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

-57.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.83 ARS 26.3K

$25.08 COP 81.7K

-28.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.07 ARS 8,967

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-68.30%

Cinema Ticket

$1.97 ARS 2,916

$3.98 COP 13.0K

-50.50%

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

$102 ARS 150.9K

$305 COP 993.5K

-66.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,197 ARS 3.2M

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-63.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.17 ARS 72.7K

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-15.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.82 ARS 73.6K

$32.20 COP 104.8K

54.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.7 ARS 147.4K

$101 COP 327.9K

-1.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ARS 173.8K

$108 COP 350.8K

9.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$150 ARS 221.1K

$477 COP 1.6M

-68.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$91.6 ARS 135.3K

$376 COP 1.2M

-75.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$250 ARS 369.7K

$845 COP 2.7M

-70.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 ARS 301.1K

$730 COP 2.4M

-72.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,550 ARS 3.8M

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-20.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,083 ARS 3.1M

$1,372 COP 4.5M

51.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$709 ARS 1.0M

$617 COP 2.0M

14.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

488.24%

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

Last update for San Juan: July 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $150 in San Juan 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.

Salaries run about 15% higher in San Juan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in San Juan versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $135 vs $193 – making San Juan 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

San Juan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 70%, 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 $911 per month in San Juan 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 San Juan, 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 $29.00 in San Juan and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $607 in San Juan and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Juan, where all-in costs run around $607, than in Medellin at $1,031. In San Juan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with San Juan. 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.