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 $767 per month in San Juan de Pasto vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,088 per month in San Juan de Pasto vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,409 per month in San Juan de Pasto vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

San Juan de Pasto is about 26% 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 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.85 COP 10.4K

$5.92 COP 21.5K

-51.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.07 COP 43.9K

$32.75 COP 119.1K

-63.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.45 COP 23.5K

$7.20 COP 26.2K

-10.42%

Cappuccino

$1.74 COP 6,313

$1.70 COP 6,186

2.35%

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

$0.70 COP 2,540

$1.10 COP 3,996

-36.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 COP 1,781

$0.72 COP 2,625

-31.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 COP 4,319

$1.67 COP 6,067

-28.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 9,015

$3.10 COP 11.3K

-20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,831

$1.06 COP 3,837

-0.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 COP 4,647

$1.25 COP 4,531

2.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,128

$1.39 COP 5,060

-18.71%

Eggs

$1.91 COP 6,938

$2.26 COP 8,229

-15.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.86 COP 21.3K

$4.33 COP 15.8K

35.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.23 COP 15.4K

$5.84 COP 21.2K

-27.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.24 COP 26.3K

$8.83 COP 32.1K

-18.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.60 COP 5,803

$2.24 COP 8,159

-28.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,896

$1.08 COP 3,911

-0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 COP 4,878

$1.53 COP 5,563

-12.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 COP 3,280

$1.37 COP 4,987

-34.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 COP 4,033

$1.13 COP 4,109

-1.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 COP 4,142

$1.12 COP 4,067

1.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 COP 2,911

$0.85 COP 3,080

-5.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 COP 2,502

$0.91 COP 3,305

-24.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 8,513

$2.33 COP 8,477

0.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.05 COP 51.1K

$11.13 COP 40.5K

26.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 COP 3,978

$1.19 COP 4,342

-8.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 COP 6,249

$2.37 COP 8,617

-27.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 COP 2,124

$0.79 COP 2,859

-26.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.52 COP 107.3K

$41.13 COP 149.6K

-28.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.48 COP 5,369

$1.44 COP 5,223

2.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.44 COP 5,243

$1.91 COP 6,952

-24.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.18 COP 22.5K

$8.02 COP 29.2K

-22.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,431

$0.94 COP 3,410

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

$18.2K COP 66.2M

$17.9K COP 65.2M

1.54%

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

$25.9K COP 94.3M

$26.8K COP 97.4M

-3.19%

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

$61.5 COP 223.5K

$84.0 COP 305.4K

-26.80%

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

$7.08 COP 25.8K

$9.60 COP 34.9K

-26.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.99 COP 83.6K

$24.16 COP 87.9K

-4.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.56 COP 78.4K

$25.88 COP 94.1K

-16.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 69.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.3K

$3.92 COP 14.2K

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

$242 COP 880.4K

$306 COP 1.1M

-20.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,014 COP 21.9M

$5,919 COP 21.5M

1.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 COP 217.7K

$57.9 COP 210.6K

3.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.28 COP 121.0K

$31.82 COP 115.7K

4.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 COP 302.4K

$99.9 COP 363.3K

-16.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.2 COP 193.6K

$107 COP 389.7K

-50.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$307 COP 1.1M

$487 COP 1.8M

-37.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 COP 878.7K

$368 COP 1.3M

-34.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$375 COP 1.4M

$826 COP 3.0M

-54.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$327 COP 1.2M

$716 COP 2.6M

-54.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,723 COP 6.3M

$2,925 COP 10.6M

-41.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,301 COP 4.7M

$1,407 COP 5.1M

-7.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$450 COP 1.6M

$546 COP 2.0M

-17.44%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $307 in San Juan de Pasto versus $487 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 21% 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: $174 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 35%, 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 $1,151 per month in San Juan de Pasto and $1,550 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 $767 in San Juan de Pasto and $1,034 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 $767, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.