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 176.2% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 315.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Santa Cruz, CA is 121.4% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 254.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.67 $22.67
$6.14 COP 22.1K
269.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.2 $80.2
$33.05 COP 119.0K
142.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.29 $12.29
$7.32 COP 26.4K
67.90%
Cappuccino
$5.94 $5.94
$1.66 COP 5,971
257.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 $3.34
$1.10 COP 3,977
203.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$0.78 COP 2,815
225.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.98 $6.98
$1.71 COP 6,172
308.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.45 $7.45
$3.17 COP 11.4K
135.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 $1.36
$1.11 COP 4,002
22.52%
White Bread (500g)
$5.17 $5.17
$1.31 COP 4,707
294.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.81 $6.81
$1.38 COP 4,967
393.48%
Eggs
$5.94 $5.94
$2.22 COP 7,989
167.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.83 $23.83
$4.34 COP 15.6K
449.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.71 $14.71
$5.80 COP 20.9K
153.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.70 $23.70
$8.98 COP 32.3K
163.92%
Apples (1kg)
$7.27 $7.27
$2.26 COP 8,143
221.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$1.11 COP 4,013
154.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.32 $5.32
$1.46 COP 5,271
264.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.33 $7.33
$1.37 COP 4,916
435.04%
Potato (1kg)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.11 COP 3,999
237.84%
Onion (1kg)
$3.89 $3.89
$1.16 COP 4,188
235.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.90 $2.90
$0.89 COP 3,202
225.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$0.87 COP 3,116
218.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.11 $14.11
$2.35 COP 8,473
500.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$27.97 $27.97
$10.86 COP 39.1K
157.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.20 COP 4,319
78.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.48 COP 8,923
14.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.79 COP 2,835
159.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.3 $65.3
$40.77 COP 146.8K
60.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 $4.08
$1.42 COP 5,124
187.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.91 COP 6,882
-3.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.91 $38.91
$7.65 COP 27.5K
408.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$0.97 COP 3,481
35.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K $35.3K
$18.1K COP 65.2M
95.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.3K COP 94.7M
-0.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$222 $222
$81.3 COP 292.8K
172.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.02 $47.02
$9.63 COP 34.7K
388.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.6 $67.6
$24.36 COP 87.7K
177.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.4 $59.4
$26.02 COP 93.7K
128.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.92 COP 68.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.22 $17.22
$3.89 COP 14.0K
342.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,211 $3,211
$304 COP 1.1M
955.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.4K $38.4K
$5,902 COP 21.3M
550.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.7 $63.7
$58.7 COP 211.3K
8.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.07 $46.07
$32.48 COP 116.9K
41.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.5 $80.5
$102 COP 366.3K
-20.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$108 COP 389.4K
5.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,895 $2,895
$474 COP 1.7M
510.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,674 $2,674
$371 COP 1.3M
621.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,516 $5,516
$848 COP 3.1M
550.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,288 $4,288
$716 COP 2.6M
498.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,202 $8,202
$2,871 COP 10.3M
185.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.0K $11.0K
$1,375 COP 5.0M
701.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Cruz, CA
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,539 $5,539
$542 COP 1.9M
922.82%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

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

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