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 $810 per month in San Pedro vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,247 per month in San Pedro vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,684 per month in San Pedro vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

San Pedro is about 21% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both San Pedro and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – San Pedro 39% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.65 ₱286
$6.16 COP 20.1K
-24.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.04 ₱1,295
$32.60 COP 106.1K
-35.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.12 ₱192
$7.34 COP 23.9K
-57.49%
Cappuccino
$2.66 ₱164
$1.72 COP 5,600
54.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ₱55.6
$1.05 COP 3,420
-14.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₱22.79
$0.77 COP 2,515
-51.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.25 ₱77.1
$1.69 COP 5,488
-26.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ₱163
$3.17 COP 10.3K
-16.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.97 ₱121
$1.05 COP 3,423
87.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 ₱76.9
$1.30 COP 4,236
-3.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.09 ₱67.1
$1.40 COP 4,544
-22.14%
Eggs
$1.95 ₱120
$2.16 COP 7,047
-9.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.88 ₱424
$4.39 COP 14.3K
56.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.37 ₱269
$5.88 COP 19.1K
-25.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.03 ₱433
$8.64 COP 28.1K
-18.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.43 ₱211
$2.28 COP 7,426
50.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 ₱95.0
$1.11 COP 3,604
38.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.89 ₱178
$1.53 COP 4,983
88.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.62 ₱99.8
$1.35 COP 4,410
20.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.67 ₱165
$1.13 COP 3,674
136.28%
Onion (1kg)
$3.16 ₱195
$1.13 COP 3,692
179.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 ₱97.4
$0.85 COP 2,753
85.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 ₱42.72
$0.91 COP 2,975
-24.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.22 ₱198
$2.34 COP 7,630
37.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.87 ₱546
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-28.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 ₱90.5
$1.20 COP 3,909
22.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 ₱122
$2.49 COP 8,104
-20.08%
🚌 Getting Around
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₱17.38
$0.84 COP 2,728
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.83 ₱51.0
$1.42 COP 4,623
-41.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.24 ₱14.78
$1.92 COP 6,235
-87.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.08 ₱128
$7.66 COP 24.9K
-72.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ₱69.7
$0.99 COP 3,223
14.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K ₱1.6M
$18.0K COP 58.7M
45.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₱1.3M
$26.6K COP 86.7M
-23.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$138 ₱8,488
$80.8 COP 263.1K
70.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.86 ₱1,346
$9.95 COP 32.4K
119.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.00 ₱1,724
$24.18 COP 78.7K
15.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.25 ₱2,109
$25.08 COP 81.7K
36.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.54 ₱280
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-76.29%
Cinema Ticket
$6.77 ₱417
$3.98 COP 13.0K
70.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$80.0 ₱4,928
$305 COP 993.5K
-73.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,812 ₱173.1K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
-53.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.12 ₱1,978
$58.1 COP 189.2K
-44.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.94 ₱1,844
$32.20 COP 104.8K
-7.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.4 ₱5,136
$101 COP 327.9K
-17.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.17 ₱2,904
$108 COP 350.8K
-56.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$270 ₱16.6K
$477 COP 1.6M
-43.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$175 ₱10.8K
$376 COP 1.2M
-53.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$576 ₱35.5K
$845 COP 2.7M
-31.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$393 ₱24.2K
$730 COP 2.4M
-46.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,522 ₱155.3K
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-21.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$853 ₱52.5K
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-37.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Pedro
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$306 ₱18.8K
$617 COP 2.0M
-50.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.52
13.43
-44.01%

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

Last update for San Pedro: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $270 in San Pedro versus $477 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 101% 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 $21.00 in San Pedro versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $212 in San Pedro vs $193 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 – Medellin is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,214 per month in San Pedro and $1,546 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 San Pedro, 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 in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 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 in Medellin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in San Pedro or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in San Pedro, where all-in costs run around $810, than in Medellin at $1,031. In San Pedro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is San Pedro or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward San Pedro – 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 Pedro 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 San Pedro. 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.

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