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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $773 per month in San Juan de Pasto vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,085 per month in San Juan de Pasto vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,398 per month in San Juan de Pasto vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

San Juan de Pasto is about 23% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both San Juan de Pasto and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – San Juan de Pasto 42% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.82 COP 8,868

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-52.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.90 COP 37.5K

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-63.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.55 COP 20.6K

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-11.84%

Cappuccino

$1.66 COP 5,234

$1.65 COP 5,207

0.61%

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

$0.68 COP 2,142

$1.10 COP 3,468

-38.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 COP 1,419

$0.78 COP 2,458

-42.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 COP 3,727

$1.72 COP 5,412

-31.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 COP 7,412

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-26.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.10 COP 3,474

-3.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,077

$1.26 COP 3,962

2.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,571

$1.38 COP 4,349

-18.12%

Eggs

$1.90 COP 5,989

$2.18 COP 6,858

-12.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.84 COP 18.4K

$4.49 COP 14.1K

30.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.26 COP 13.4K

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-26.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.53 COP 23.7K

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-16.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 COP 4,896

$2.32 COP 7,308

-33.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,377

$1.06 COP 3,352

0.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,310

$1.52 COP 4,774

-9.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 COP 2,846

$1.36 COP 4,270

-33.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 COP 3,643

$1.13 COP 3,552

2.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 COP 3,581

$1.17 COP 3,689

-2.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 COP 2,518

$0.90 COP 2,838

-11.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 COP 2,167

$0.90 COP 2,823

-23.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 COP 7,316

$2.23 COP 7,034

4.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.73 COP 49.5K

$12.12 COP 38.2K

29.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 COP 3,414

$1.19 COP 3,743

-9.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,464

$2.48 COP 7,815

-29.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 COP 1,798

$0.85 COP 2,687

-32.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.63 COP 96.4K

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-26.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 COP 4,737

$1.42 COP 4,459

5.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 COP 4,766

$1.95 COP 6,141

-22.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 COP 19.0K

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-23.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 COP 2,865

$0.99 COP 3,118

-8.08%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

0.00%

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

$25.9K COP 81.6M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-3.25%

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

$62.6 COP 197.2K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-24.56%

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

$7.08 COP 22.3K

$9.70 COP 30.5K

-27.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.03 COP 72.5K

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-2.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.08 COP 69.5K

$25.26 COP 79.5K

-12.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 12.5K

$3.95 COP 12.4K

0.76%

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

$238 COP 749.3K

$316 COP 994.2K

-24.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,867 COP 18.5M

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-1.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 COP 188.6K

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-0.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.18 COP 101.3K

$31.82 COP 100.2K

1.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.7 COP 263.5K

$102 COP 320.1K

-17.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.4 COP 164.9K

$107 COP 338.3K

-51.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$301 COP 948.2K

$475 COP 1.5M

-36.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 COP 744.7K

$374 COP 1.2M

-36.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 COP 1.2M

$849 COP 2.7M

-55.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$329 COP 1.0M

$719 COP 2.3M

-54.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,913 COP 6.0M

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-41.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,277 COP 4.0M

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-11.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$504 COP 1.6M

$624 COP 2.0M

-19.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.18

13.43

-1.86%

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

Last update for San Juan de Pasto: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $301 in San Juan de Pasto versus $475 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 24% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in San Juan de Pasto versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $193 – making San Juan de Pasto 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 de Pasto vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,159 per month in San Juan de Pasto and $1,504 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 de Pasto, 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 $12.00 in San Juan de Pasto 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 $773 in San Juan de Pasto and $1,003 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 de Pasto, where all-in costs run around $773, than in Medellin at $1,003. In San Juan de Pasto it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Juan de Pasto – 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 de Pasto. 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.