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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,618 per month in San Pedro vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,409 per month in San Pedro vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,201 per month in San Pedro vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

San Pedro costs about 60% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

San Pedro sits 21% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.16 ₡5,097
$5.99 COP 21.3K
86.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.1 ₡27.5K
$32.86 COP 116.9K
82.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.08 ₡4,603
$7.09 COP 25.2K
42.17%
Cappuccino
$3.91 ₡1,784
$1.71 COP 6,093
128.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 ₡939
$1.10 COP 3,910
87.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ₡719
$0.78 COP 2,771
101.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.94 ₡1,343
$1.68 COP 5,976
75.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70 ₡2,148
$3.07 COP 10.9K
53.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.99 ₡908
$1.09 COP 3,892
82.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 ₡1,266
$1.26 COP 4,492
119.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.13 ₡973
$1.38 COP 4,905
54.35%
Eggs
$2.90 ₡1,324
$2.19 COP 7,799
32.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.97 ₡4,555
$4.40 COP 15.7K
126.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.97 ₡4,099
$5.63 COP 20.0K
59.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.91 ₡6,355
$8.89 COP 31.6K
56.47%
Apples (1kg)
$4.58 ₡2,093
$2.34 COP 8,319
95.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 ₡660
$1.06 COP 3,764
35.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.20 ₡1,920
$1.50 COP 5,355
180.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.57 ₡1,631
$1.38 COP 4,906
158.70%
Potato (1kg)
$3.45 ₡1,577
$1.15 COP 4,097
200.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.26 ₡1,488
$1.16 COP 4,141
181.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 ₡437
$0.89 COP 3,170
7.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 ₡1,299
$0.84 COP 2,986
238.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.29 ₡2,419
$2.28 COP 8,116
132.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.37 ₡10.2K
$10.64 COP 37.9K
110.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.51 ₡1,147
$1.20 COP 4,268
109.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 ₡1,293
$2.47 COP 8,793
14.57%
🚌 Getting Around
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 ₡469
$0.86 COP 3,045
19.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.40 COP 147.3K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.78 ₡812
$1.47 COP 5,245
21.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 ₡843
$1.96 COP 6,984
-5.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.80 ₡3,565
$7.74 COP 27.5K
0.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 ₡634
$0.95 COP 3,397
46.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K ₡17.3M
$18.1K COP 64.5M
108.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K ₡15.1M
$26.5K COP 94.2M
24.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$94.2 ₡43.0K
$82.3 COP 292.7K
14.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.30 ₡12.0K
$9.50 COP 33.8K
176.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 ₡27.5K
$24.23 COP 86.2K
148.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 ₡25.5K
$25.89 COP 92.1K
115.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.62 ₡10.8K
$19.00 COP 67.6K
24.32%
Cinema Ticket
$9.77 ₡4,462
$3.93 COP 14.0K
148.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$560 ₡256.0K
$309 COP 1.1M
81.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K ₡5.7M
$5,965 COP 21.2M
110.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ₡28.8K
$58.7 COP 208.7K
7.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6 ₡23.6K
$32.35 COP 115.1K
59.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 ₡57.8K
$103 COP 365.1K
23.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 ₡48.7K
$108 COP 385.8K
-1.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$775 ₡353.9K
$476 COP 1.7M
62.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$608 ₡277.6K
$379 COP 1.3M
60.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,545 ₡705.9K
$838 COP 3.0M
84.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$945 ₡431.9K
$724 COP 2.6M
30.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,791 COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,211 COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$512 COP 1.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
13.43
-24.27%

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

Last update for San Pedro: May 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $775 in San Pedro 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in San Pedro versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $368 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 Pedro vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than San Pedro?
Yes – San Pedro is pricier by about 60%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,426 per month in San Pedro 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 Pedro or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in San Pedro and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in San Pedro and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 95% more in San Pedro, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for San Pedro or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in San Pedro at $1,618. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Pedro it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is San Pedro 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 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 Pedro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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