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 $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,439 per month in San Miguelito vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,986 per month in San Miguelito vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

San Miguelito is about 12% 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 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.80 PAB 9.80

$5.99 COP 21.4K

63.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.67 PAB 49.67

$32.86 COP 117.4K

51.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.85 PAB 7.85

$7.09 COP 25.3K

10.72%

Cappuccino

$3.65 PAB 3.65

$1.71 COP 6,115

113.45%

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

$1.68 PAB 1.68

$1.10 COP 3,924

52.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 PAB 1.14

$0.78 COP 2,781

46.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 PAB 2.99

$1.68 COP 5,997

77.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.01 PAB 4.01

$3.07 COP 11.0K

30.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 PAB 1.84

$1.09 COP 3,906

68.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.58 PAB 2.58

$1.26 COP 4,508

104.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 PAB 2.51

$1.38 COP 4,922

81.88%

Eggs

$2.82 PAB 2.82

$2.19 COP 7,827

28.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.92 PAB 9.92

$4.40 COP 15.7K

125.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.25 PAB 7.25

$5.63 COP 20.1K

28.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 PAB 9.70

$8.89 COP 31.8K

9.11%

Apples (1kg)

$3.30 PAB 3.30

$2.34 COP 8,349

41.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 PAB 1.55

$1.06 COP 3,777

46.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.84 PAB 2.84

$1.50 COP 5,374

89.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.09 PAB 3.09

$1.38 COP 4,924

123.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.32 PAB 2.32

$1.15 COP 4,111

101.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.85 PAB 2.85

$1.16 COP 4,155

145.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.13 PAB 2.13

$0.89 COP 3,182

139.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 PAB 1.54

$0.84 COP 2,997

83.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.93 PAB 5.93

$2.28 COP 8,145

160.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.78 PAB 10.78

$10.64 COP 38.0K

1.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 PAB 1.26

$1.20 COP 4,284

5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 PAB 2.44

$2.47 COP 8,824

-1.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 PAB 2.51

$1.47 COP 5,264

70.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 PAB 1.77

$1.96 COP 7,009

-9.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.77 PAB 21.77

$7.74 COP 27.6K

181.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 PAB 0.87

$0.95 COP 3,409

-8.42%

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

$20.0K PAB 20.0K

$18.1K COP 64.7M

10.47%

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

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

$26.5K COP 94.6M

-21.17%

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

$123 PAB 123

$82.3 COP 293.7K

49.14%

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

$29.50 PAB 29.50

$9.50 COP 33.9K

210.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.20 PAB 49.20

$24.23 COP 86.5K

103.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.95 PAB 49.95

$25.89 COP 92.4K

92.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$7.86 PAB 7.86

$3.93 COP 14.0K

100.00%

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

$472 PAB 472

$309 COP 1.1M

52.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.0K PAB 16.0K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

167.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 PAB 51.2

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-12.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.20 PAB 46.20

$32.35 COP 115.5K

42.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 PAB 89.6

$103 COP 366.4K

-12.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 PAB 119

$108 COP 387.2K

9.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 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: $286 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 Miguelito vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 13%, 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 $1,519 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 52% 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 $1,013. 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.