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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $814 per month in Santa Fe vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,245 per month in Santa Fe vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,677 per month in Santa Fe vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Santa Fe is about 21% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.84 ARS 10.1K

$6.16 COP 20.1K

11.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.80 ARS 24.8K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-48.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.58 ARS 11.2K

$7.34 COP 23.9K

3.27%

Cappuccino

$1.63 ARS 2,414

$1.72 COP 5,600

-5.23%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 ARS 1,961

$1.05 COP 3,420

26.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 ARS 1,731

$0.77 COP 2,515

51.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 ARS 1,845

$1.69 COP 5,488

-26.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 ARS 3,657

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-22.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 ARS 1,463

$1.05 COP 3,423

-5.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ARS 1,435

$1.30 COP 4,236

-25.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.81 ARS 2,669

$1.40 COP 4,544

29.29%

Eggs

$1.53 ARS 2,260

$2.16 COP 7,047

-29.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.83 ARS 13.0K

$4.39 COP 14.3K

101.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 ARS 8,628

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-0.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.18 ARS 12.1K

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-5.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 ARS 2,795

$2.28 COP 7,426

-17.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 ARS 3,212

$1.11 COP 3,604

95.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.98 ARS 1,449

$1.53 COP 4,983

-35.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 ARS 3,900

$1.35 COP 4,410

95.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 ARS 764

$1.13 COP 3,674

-53.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ARS 2,101

$1.13 COP 3,692

25.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 ARS 1,351

$0.85 COP 2,753

7.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ARS 2,765

$0.91 COP 2,975

105.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.34 ARS 4,930

$2.34 COP 7,630

42.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.89 ARS 7,226

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-60.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 ARS 1,862

$1.20 COP 3,909

5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 ARS 4,668

$2.49 COP 8,104

26.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ARS 1,512

$0.84 COP 2,728

21.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 ARS 1,459

$1.42 COP 4,623

-30.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ARS 1,366

$1.92 COP 6,235

-52.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 ARS 9,109

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-19.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ARS 1,570

$0.99 COP 3,223

7.07%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.2K ARS 44.7M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

67.68%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.3K ARS 43.3M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

10.05%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$54.7 ARS 80.9K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-32.31%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.07 ARS 11.9K

$9.95 COP 32.4K

-18.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.71 ARS 21.7K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

-39.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.01 ARS 59.1K

$25.08 COP 81.7K

59.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.55 ARS 20.0K

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-29.24%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 ARS 7,187

$3.98 COP 13.0K

22.11%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$216 ARS 318.8K

$305 COP 993.5K

-29.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,092 ARS 1.6M

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-81.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.0 ARS 91.6K

$58.1 COP 189.2K

6.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.2 ARS 89.0K

$32.20 COP 104.8K

86.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 ARS 160.8K

$101 COP 327.9K

8.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 ARS 142.1K

$108 COP 350.8K

-10.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$313 ARS 462.9K

$477 COP 1.6M

-34.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 ARS 297.0K

$376 COP 1.2M

-46.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 ARS 858.1K

$845 COP 2.7M

-31.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$322 ARS 476.3K

$730 COP 2.4M

-55.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,247 ARS 1.8M

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-61.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,035 ARS 1.5M

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-24.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$831 ARS 1.2M

$617 COP 2.0M

34.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

100

13.43

644.60%

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

Last update for Santa Fe: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $313 in Santa Fe 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 35% higher in Santa Fe, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Santa Fe versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $206 in Santa Fe 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

Santa Fe vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,220 per month in Santa Fe and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santa Fe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Santa Fe and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Santa Fe, where all-in costs run around $814, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Santa Fe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Santa Fe – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Santa Fe. 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.