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

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Cruz is 45.4% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 12.6% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Santa Cruz is 23.2% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 6.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Cruz
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.66 JMD 1,198
$6.03 COP 22.7K
27.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.9 JMD 9,834
$33.17 COP 124.8K
89.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.65 JMD 1,354
$7.29 COP 27.4K
18.66%
Cappuccino
$4.33 JMD 677
$1.63 COP 6,133
165.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 JMD 215
$1.05 COP 3,947
30.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 JMD 109
$0.77 COP 2,899
-9.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 JMD 400
$1.73 COP 6,510
47.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 JMD 496
$3.18 COP 12.0K
-0.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Cruz
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.41 JMD 689
$1.07 COP 4,015
312.15%
White Bread (500g)
$3.59 JMD 561
$1.31 COP 4,935
174.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 JMD 245
$1.38 COP 5,195
13.77%
Eggs
$3.53 JMD 552
$2.25 COP 8,457
56.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.97 JMD 1,716
$4.48 COP 16.9K
144.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.45 JMD 1,009
$5.74 COP 21.6K
12.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.85 JMD 1,228
$8.86 COP 33.3K
-11.40%
Apples (1kg)
$6.11 JMD 956
$2.24 COP 8,438
172.77%
Banana (1kg)
$3.09 JMD 483
$1.06 COP 3,988
191.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.25 JMD 665
$1.51 COP 5,697
181.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.96 JMD 464
$1.36 COP 5,119
117.65%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 JMD 327
$1.12 COP 4,218
86.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 JMD 315
$1.17 COP 4,400
71.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.97 JMD 464
$0.90 COP 3,395
230.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 JMD 225
$0.84 COP 3,150
71.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.54 JMD 1,336
$2.26 COP 8,501
277.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.28 JMD 1,765
$9.97 COP 37.5K
13.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 JMD 439
$1.18 COP 4,451
138.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 JMD 499
$2.39 COP 8,993
33.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Cruz
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.86 COP 3,233
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.45 COP 156.0K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.07 JMD 167
$1.47 COP 5,521
-27.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.24 JMD 507
$1.95 COP 7,323
66.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.39 JMD 1,000
$7.76 COP 29.2K
-17.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 JMD 201
$0.97 COP 3,640
31.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.4K JMD 6.8M
$17.9K COP 67.5M
141.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K JMD 5.2M
$26.7K COP 100.6M
23.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Cruz
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 JMD 25.1K
$81.1 COP 305.2K
97.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.79 JMD 3,408
$9.40 COP 35.4K
131.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.4 JMD 7,889
$23.61 COP 88.8K
113.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Cruz
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$25.55 COP 96.1K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.29 COP 72.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.25 JMD 2,072
$4.10 COP 15.4K
223.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Cruz
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$227 JMD 35.5K
$306 COP 1.2M
-25.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,440 JMD 381.7K
$5,899 COP 22.2M
-58.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Cruz
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.36 JMD 4,122
$59.8 COP 225.1K
-55.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.86 JMD 4,045
$31.96 COP 120.3K
-19.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.3 JMD 11.1K
$103 COP 386.5K
-30.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.4 JMD 11.8K
$108 COP 405.9K
-30.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Cruz
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$483 COP 1.8M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$377 COP 1.4M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$822 COP 3.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$721 COP 2.7M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,784 COP 10.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,320 COP 5.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Cruz
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$401 JMD 62.7K
$538 COP 2.0M
-25.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.15
13.43
-31.87%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz: March 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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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