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 $597 per month in San Juan vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $986 per month in San Juan vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,376 per month in San Juan vs $2,192 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 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.86 ARS 8,357

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-2.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.78 ARS 42.5K

$32.86 COP 117.4K

-9.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.23 ARS 11.7K

$7.09 COP 25.3K

16.08%

Cappuccino

$1.50 ARS 2,142

$1.71 COP 6,115

-12.28%

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

$0.97 ARS 1,384

$1.10 COP 3,924

-11.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 ARS 1,226

$0.78 COP 2,781

10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 ARS 2,828

$1.68 COP 5,997

17.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ARS 4,179

$3.07 COP 11.0K

-4.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 ARS 1,022

$1.09 COP 3,906

-33.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ARS 1,016

$1.26 COP 4,508

-43.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 ARS 1,736

$1.38 COP 4,922

-11.59%

Eggs

$1.67 ARS 2,378

$2.19 COP 7,827

-23.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.45 ARS 4,928

$4.40 COP 15.7K

-21.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 ARS 5,080

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-36.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.90 ARS 5,560

$8.89 COP 31.8K

-56.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 ARS 2,157

$2.34 COP 8,349

-35.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 ARS 2,095

$1.06 COP 3,777

38.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 ARS 2,123

$1.50 COP 5,374

-0.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ARS 2,974

$1.38 COP 4,924

50.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 ARS 891

$1.15 COP 4,111

-46.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 ARS 945

$1.16 COP 4,155

-43.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 ARS 593

$0.89 COP 3,182

-52.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ARS 1,222

$0.84 COP 2,997

2.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.70 ARS 2,430

$2.28 COP 8,145

-25.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.11 ARS 7,295

$10.64 COP 38.0K

-51.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ARS 2,198

$1.20 COP 4,284

28.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ARS 2,619

$2.47 COP 8,824

-25.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ARS 410

$0.86 COP 3,056

-66.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.95 ARS 7,066

$41.40 COP 147.9K

-88.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 ARS 587

$1.47 COP 5,264

-72.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ARS 1,456

$1.96 COP 7,009

-47.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.04 ARS 7,187

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-34.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 ARS 1,557

$0.95 COP 3,409

14.74%

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

$32.1K ARS 45.8M

$18.1K COP 64.7M

77.01%

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

$21.3K ARS 30.4M

$26.5K COP 94.6M

-19.64%

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

$76.8 ARS 109.6K

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-6.61%

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

$4.97 ARS 7,083

$9.50 COP 33.9K

-47.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.16 ARS 14.5K

$24.23 COP 86.5K

-58.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.15 ARS 25.9K

$25.89 COP 92.4K

-29.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.89 ARS 8,398

$19.00 COP 67.9K

-69.00%

Cinema Ticket

$2.01 ARS 2,873

$3.93 COP 14.0K

-48.85%

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

$104 ARS 147.8K

$309 COP 1.1M

-66.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,153 ARS 3.1M

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-63.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.46 ARS 70.6K

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-15.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.96 ARS 71.3K

$32.35 COP 115.5K

54.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 ARS 143.1K

$103 COP 366.4K

-2.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 ARS 167.8K

$108 COP 387.2K

8.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 ARS 211.7K

$476 COP 1.7M

-68.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.6 ARS 127.7K

$379 COP 1.4M

-76.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$247 ARS 352.9K

$838 COP 3.0M

-70.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 ARS 281.2K

$724 COP 2.6M

-72.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,548 ARS 3.6M

$2,791 COP 10.0M

-8.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,112 ARS 3.0M

$1,211 COP 4.3M

74.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$713 ARS 1.0M

$512 COP 1.8M

39.34%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $148 in San Juan 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.

Salaries run about 39% 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 $30.00 in San Juan versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $135 vs $188 – 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 $895 per month in San Juan 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 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 $30.00 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 $597 in San Juan and $1,013 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 $597, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.