Cost of Living Comparison Between San Miguelito and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between San Miguelito and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $893 per month in San Miguelito vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,444 per month in San Miguelito vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,995 per month in San Miguelito vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

San Miguelito is about 13% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both San Miguelito and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – San Miguelito 33% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.92 PAB 9.92

$6.16 COP 20.1K

61.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.75 PAB 49.75

$32.60 COP 106.1K

52.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.97 PAB 7.97

$7.34 COP 23.9K

8.58%

Cappuccino

$3.71 PAB 3.71

$1.72 COP 5,600

115.70%

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

$1.74 PAB 1.74

$1.05 COP 3,420

65.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 PAB 1.12

$0.77 COP 2,515

45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.07 PAB 3.07

$1.69 COP 5,488

81.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.07 PAB 4.07

$3.17 COP 10.3K

28.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 PAB 1.80

$1.05 COP 3,423

71.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 PAB 2.46

$1.30 COP 4,236

89.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.38 PAB 2.38

$1.40 COP 4,544

70.00%

Eggs

$2.93 PAB 2.93

$2.16 COP 7,047

35.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.05 PAB 10.05

$4.39 COP 14.3K

128.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.15 PAB 7.15

$5.88 COP 19.1K

21.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.10 PAB 10.10

$8.64 COP 28.1K

16.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 PAB 3.43

$2.28 COP 7,426

50.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 PAB 1.54

$1.11 COP 3,604

38.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.78 PAB 2.78

$1.53 COP 4,983

81.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.10 PAB 3.10

$1.35 COP 4,410

129.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.29 PAB 2.29

$1.13 COP 3,674

102.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 PAB 2.83

$1.13 COP 3,692

150.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.13 PAB 2.13

$0.85 COP 2,753

150.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 PAB 1.50

$0.91 COP 2,975

64.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.91 PAB 5.91

$2.34 COP 7,630

152.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 PAB 10.64

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-13.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PAB 1.24

$1.20 COP 3,909

3.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 PAB 2.34

$2.49 COP 8,104

-6.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,728

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 PAB 2.46

$1.42 COP 4,623

73.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 PAB 1.86

$1.92 COP 6,235

-3.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.02 PAB 22.02

$7.66 COP 24.9K

187.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 PAB 0.87

$0.99 COP 3,223

-12.12%

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

$20.1K PAB 20.1K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

11.56%

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

$20.6K PAB 20.6K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-22.64%

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

$122 PAB 122

$80.8 COP 263.1K

50.81%

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

$30.15 PAB 30.15

$9.95 COP 32.4K

203.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.98 PAB 49.98

$24.18 COP 78.7K

106.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.2 PAB 50.2

$25.08 COP 81.7K

99.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$8.04 PAB 8.04

$3.98 COP 13.0K

102.01%

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

$473 PAB 473

$305 COP 993.5K

54.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K PAB 15.7K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

158.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.4 PAB 51.4

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-11.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.37 PAB 45.37

$32.20 COP 104.8K

40.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 PAB 89.4

$101 COP 327.9K

-11.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 PAB 122

$108 COP 350.8K

12.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.23

13.43

-53.61%

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

Last update for San Miguelito: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in San Miguelito versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $193 – 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 Miguelito vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 15%, 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 $1,339 per month in San Miguelito and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in San Miguelito and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 47% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Miguelito, where all-in costs run around $893, than in Medellin at $1,031. In San Miguelito it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Miguelito – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with San Miguelito. 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.