😐A single person spends $1,433 per month in San Marco Argentano vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,174 per month in San Marco Argentano vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,915 per month in San Marco Argentano vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐San Marco Argentano costs about 41% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊San Marco Argentano sits 7% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Marco Argentano
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.71€15.24
$5.99COP 21.3K
195.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5€50.4
$32.86COP 116.9K
78.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.62€10.00
$7.09COP 25.2K
63.89%
Cappuccino
$1.35€1.16
$1.71COP 6,093
-21.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.02
$1.10COP 3,910
7.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61€0.52
$0.78COP 2,771
-21.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.32€2.00
$1.68COP 5,976
38.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55€3.06
$3.07COP 10.9K
15.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Marco Argentano
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50€1.29
$1.09COP 3,892
37.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.14€0.98
$1.26COP 4,492
-9.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.33€2.01
$1.38COP 4,905
68.84%
Eggs
$3.18€2.74
$2.19COP 7,799
45.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.71€4.92
$4.40COP 15.7K
29.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.85€5.04
$5.63COP 20.0K
3.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.76€10.12
$8.89COP 31.6K
32.28%
Apples(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$2.34COP 8,319
-27.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60€1.38
$1.06COP 3,764
50.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46€1.26
$1.50COP 5,355
-2.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.38COP 4,906
26.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19€1.03
$1.15COP 4,097
3.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13€0.97
$1.16COP 4,141
-2.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84€0.72
$0.89COP 3,170
-5.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44€0.38
$0.84COP 2,986
-47.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.69€4.90
$2.28COP 8,116
149.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.95€6.85
$10.64COP 37.9K
-25.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15€0.99
$1.20COP 4,268
-4.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.02
$2.47COP 8,793
-5.26%
🚌 Getting Around
San Marco Argentano
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.77€1.52
$0.86COP 3,045
105.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.18€38.04
$41.40COP 147.3K
6.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.97€6.00
$1.47COP 5,245
374.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54€1.33
$1.96COP 6,984
-21.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$58.2€50.1
$7.74COP 27.5K
651.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94€1.67
$0.95COP 3,397
104.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K€19.2K
$18.1KCOP 64.5M
22.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K€21.5K
$26.5KCOP 94.2M
-5.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Marco Argentano
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114€98.1
$82.3COP 292.7K
38.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.65€12.61
$9.50COP 33.8K
54.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.43€24.47
$24.23COP 86.2K
17.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Marco Argentano
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.0€46.46
$25.89COP 92.1K
108.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.95€19.76
$19.00COP 67.6K
20.79%
Cinema Ticket
$9.00€7.75
$3.93COP 14.0K
129.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Marco Argentano
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$176€151
$309COP 1.1M
-43.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K€9,866
$5,965COP 21.2M
92.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Marco Argentano
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.8€68.7
$58.7COP 208.7K
36.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.21€25.14
$32.35COP 115.1K
-9.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.2€75.9
$103COP 365.1K
-14.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105€90.5
$108COP 385.8K
-3.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Marco Argentano
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$766€660
$476COP 1.7M
60.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$568€489
$379COP 1.3M
49.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,196€1,030
$838COP 3.0M
42.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$909€783
$724COP 2.6M
25.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,002€2,584
$2,791COP 9.9M
7.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,045€1,761
$1,211COP 4.3M
68.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Marco Argentano
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,775€1,528
$512COP 1.8M
246.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2
13.43
-85.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Marco Argentano: June 2, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $766 in San Marco Argentano 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 247% higher in San Marco Argentano, 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 $59.0 in San Marco Argentano versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $188 – making Medellin 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 Marco Argentano vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than San Marco Argentano?
Yes – San Marco Argentano is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,149 per month in San Marco Argentano and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in San Marco Argentano or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in San Marco Argentano and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in San Marco Argentano vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,433 in San Marco Argentano and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for San Marco Argentano or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in San Marco Argentano at $1,433. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Marco Argentano it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is San Marco Argentano or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, San Marco Argentano or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Marco Argentano makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
San Marco Argentano vs other spots: cost of living compared