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 $868 per month in San Juan vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,372 per month in San Juan vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,877 per month in San Juan vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

San Juan is about 47% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

San Juan sits 37% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.11 ARS 10.7K

$8.04 COP 24.8K

-11.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.20 ARS 60.6K

$48.29 COP 148.6K

-16.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.48 ARS 18.8K

$9.42 COP 29.0K

32.48%

Cappuccino

$2.58 ARS 3,890

$2.94 COP 9,040

-12.24%

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

$2.19 ARS 3,301

$1.86 COP 5,735

17.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 ARS 2,640

$1.46 COP 4,479

19.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.95 ARS 5,959

$3.21 COP 9,882

23.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 ARS 6,638

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-22.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 ARS 1,998

$1.44 COP 4,428

-8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ARS 2,124

$2.40 COP 7,389

-41.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 ARS 2,123

$1.70 COP 5,228

-17.06%

Eggs

$1.46 ARS 2,201

$2.89 COP 8,896

-49.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.79 ARS 4,207

$10.06 COP 30.9K

-72.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.28 ARS 9,467

$9.97 COP 30.7K

-37.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.79 ARS 16.3K

$14.20 COP 43.7K

-24.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.39 ARS 2,092

$3.98 COP 12.3K

-65.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 ARS 2,183

$1.58 COP 4,878

-8.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 ARS 2,030

$2.15 COP 6,624

-37.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 ARS 2,120

$2.30 COP 7,078

-38.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 ARS 2,098

$2.00 COP 6,169

-30.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 ARS 2,173

$1.51 COP 4,646

-4.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 ARS 2,100

$1.20 COP 3,701

15.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ARS 2,195

$1.28 COP 3,946

13.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.83 ARS 4,263

$3.84 COP 11.8K

-26.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.07 ARS 7,642

$14.01 COP 43.1K

-63.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 ARS 2,175

$1.71 COP 5,256

-15.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 ARS 2,122

$2.74 COP 8,440

-48.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 ARS 1,547

$1.25 COP 3,834

-17.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 239.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 ARS 3,046

$1.31 COP 4,016

54.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 ARS 1,478

$2.17 COP 6,680

-54.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.86 ARS 7,328

$8.29 COP 25.5K

-41.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ARS 1,687

$1.36 COP 4,172

-17.65%

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

$26.6K ARS 40.2M

$27.5K COP 84.5M

-3.11%

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

$33.1K ARS 50.0M

$36.5K COP 112.4M

-9.35%

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

$137 ARS 206.8K

$169 COP 519.2K

-18.74%

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

$10.18 ARS 15.4K

$13.57 COP 41.8K

-24.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.04 ARS 27.2K

$28.32 COP 87.2K

-36.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.82 ARS 45.0K

$45.71 COP 140.7K

-34.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.0K

Cinema Ticket

$7.17 ARS 10.8K

$6.65 COP 20.5K

7.82%

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

$173 ARS 260.7K

$803 COP 2.5M

-78.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,198 ARS 6.3M

$9,190 COP 28.3M

-54.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ARS 159.8K

$87.4 COP 268.8K

21.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.07 ARS 65.0K

$59.4 COP 182.7K

-27.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.7 ARS 87.0K

$139 COP 427.5K

-58.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.91 ARS 54.2K

$102 COP 314.0K

-64.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$250 ARS 376.9K

$1,071 COP 3.3M

-76.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$203 ARS 305.6K

$653 COP 2.0M

-68.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 ARS 765.1K

$1,925 COP 5.9M

-73.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$395 ARS 595.1K

$1,048 COP 3.2M

-62.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$686 ARS 1.0M

$655 COP 2.0M

4.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

393.60%

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

Last update for San Juan: September 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $250 in San Juan versus $1,071 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 5% 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 $40.00 in San Juan versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $300 – 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 89%, 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 $1,302 per month in San Juan and $2,462 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 $40.00 in San Juan and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 59% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Juan, where all-in costs run around $868, than in Medellin at $1,641. 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.