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 $761 per month in San Juan de Pasto vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,072 per month in San Juan de Pasto vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,383 per month in San Juan de Pasto vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

San Juan de Pasto is about 25% 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 43% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.84 COP 9,927

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-52.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.25 COP 42.8K

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-63.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.40 COP 22.3K

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-11.48%

Cappuccino

$1.69 COP 5,890

$1.63 COP 5,687

3.68%

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

$0.64 COP 2,222

$1.09 COP 3,821

-41.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 COP 1,689

$0.73 COP 2,548

-34.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 COP 4,155

$1.74 COP 6,065

-31.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 COP 8,355

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-26.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,701

$1.05 COP 3,662

0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,525

$1.29 COP 4,515

0.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,929

$1.32 COP 4,617

-14.39%

Eggs

$1.92 COP 6,717

$2.27 COP 7,927

-15.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 COP 21.2K

$4.35 COP 15.2K

39.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.17 COP 14.5K

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-29.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.33 COP 25.6K

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-14.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.59 COP 5,566

$2.25 COP 7,844

-29.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,756

$1.07 COP 3,733

0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,737

$1.52 COP 5,322

-10.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.87 COP 3,039

$1.42 COP 4,964

-38.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,056

$1.17 COP 4,084

-0.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,061

$1.17 COP 4,077

-0.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 COP 2,792

$0.89 COP 3,096

-10.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 COP 2,423

$0.90 COP 3,146

-23.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,120

$2.25 COP 7,837

3.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.17 COP 49.5K

$11.04 COP 38.5K

28.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 COP 3,919

$1.14 COP 3,977

-1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 COP 6,002

$2.38 COP 8,301

-27.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 COP 1,996

$0.84 COP 2,916

-32.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.32 COP 105.8K

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-27.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.46 COP 5,094

$1.41 COP 4,912

3.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.46 COP 5,079

$1.90 COP 6,634

-23.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.09 COP 21.2K

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-21.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 COP 3,106

$1.01 COP 3,509

-11.88%

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

$18.0K COP 62.7M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

2.16%

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

$26.0K COP 90.6M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

-2.03%

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

$62.9 COP 219.4K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-24.87%

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

$7.29 COP 25.5K

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-22.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.41 COP 81.7K

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-2.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.75 COP 75.9K

$25.31 COP 88.3K

-14.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$3.84 COP 13.4K

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-6.34%

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

$238 COP 832.3K

$312 COP 1.1M

-23.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,971 COP 20.8M

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-0.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 COP 209.7K

$58.0 COP 202.6K

3.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.04 COP 111.8K

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-1.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 COP 290.2K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-16.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.7 COP 187.5K

$109 COP 378.8K

-50.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$306 COP 1.1M

$482 COP 1.7M

-36.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$236 COP 822.5K

$379 COP 1.3M

-37.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 COP 1.3M

$837 COP 2.9M

-54.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 COP 1.1M

$723 COP 2.5M

-55.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.9M

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-40.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,116 COP 3.9M

$1,223 COP 4.3M

-8.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$453 COP 1.6M

$541 COP 1.9M

-16.24%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $306 in San Juan de Pasto versus $482 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 19% 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: $176 vs $190 – 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 34%, 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 $1,142 per month in San Juan de Pasto and $1,525 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 $761 in San Juan de Pasto and $1,017 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 $761, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.