Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz, CA and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz, CA and Medellin

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Cruz, CA is 108.6% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 323.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Santa Cruz, CA is 143.7% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 262.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.44 $22.44
$6.23 COP 26K
260.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.7 $79.7
$32.34 COP 134.8K
146.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.36 $12.36
$7.39 COP 30.8K
67.25%
Cappuccino
$5.85 $5.85
$1.72 COP 7,155
240.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 $3.41
$1.1 COP 4,575
210.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$0.73 COP 3,060
247.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.93 $6.93
$1.66 COP 6,916
317.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.46 $7.46
$3.2 COP 13.3K
133.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.09 COP 4,552
31.19%
White Bread (500g)
$5.16 $5.16
$1.24 COP 5,188
316.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.65 $6.65
$1.33 COP 5,544
400.00%
Eggs
$5.96 $5.96
$2.22 COP 9,252
168.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.24 $23.24
$4.55 COP 19K
410.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.85 $14.85
$5.71 COP 23.8K
160.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.7 $23.7
$8.59 COP 35.8K
175.90%
Apples (1kg)
$7.05 $7.05
$2.26 COP 9,410
211.95%
Banana (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.07 COP 4,461
159.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.32 $5.32
$1.51 COP 6,293
252.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$1.42 COP 5,911
427.46%
Potato (1kg)
$3.88 $3.88
$1.11 COP 4,619
249.55%
Onion (1kg)
$3.93 $3.93
$1.18 COP 4,932
233.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.9 $2.9
$0.89 COP 3,718
225.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 $2.86
$0.84 COP 3,507
240.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.16 $14.16
$2.35 COP 9,809
502.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.02 $12.02
$9.34 COP 38.9K
28.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.18 COP 4,927
82.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.49 COP 10.4K
7.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.83 COP 3,464
146.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 $65.2
$41.9 COP 174.7K
55.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.09 $4.09
$1.41 COP 5,899
190.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 $1.93
$1.96 COP 8,164
-1.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.9 $38.9
$7.85 COP 32.7K
395.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.02 COP 4,265
21.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K $34.9K
$17.6K COP 73.4M
98.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K $26.5K
$26.2K COP 109.2M
0.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$221 $221
$82.5 COP 344.1K
167.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.05 $47.05
$9.44 COP 39.4K
398.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.8 $67.8
$23.51 COP 98K
188.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 $60.2
$25.68 COP 107.1K
134.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.04 $17.04
$3.96 COP 16.5K
330.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,225 $3,225
$305 COP 1.3M
958.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.5K $38.5K
$5,925 COP 24.7M
549.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.2 $63.2
$57.9 COP 241.4K
9.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.64 $46.64
$31.59 COP 131.7K
47.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 $79.3
$103 COP 430.1K
-23.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$106 COP 440.5K
9.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,893 $2,893
$489 COP 2M
491.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,648 $2,648
$379 COP 1.6M
598.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,700 $5,700
$827 COP 3.4M
589.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,219 $4,219
$729 COP 3M
478.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,235 $9,235
$2,190 COP 9.1M
321.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,116 $8,116
$1,532 COP 6.4M
429.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,594 $5,594
$550 COP 2.3M
917.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
13.43
-52.64%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz, CA: October 27, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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