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

😐 Solo nomad: Santa Monica, CA is 126.7% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 345.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Santa Monica, CA is 127.3% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 360% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Monica, CA
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.29 $25.29
$6.23 COP 26K
305.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.5 $99.5
$32.34 COP 134.8K
207.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.3 $12.3
$7.39 COP 30.8K
66.44%
Cappuccino
$5.68 $5.68
$1.72 COP 7,155
230.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 $2.88
$1.1 COP 4,575
161.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.3 $2.3
$0.73 COP 3,060
215.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.59 $8.59
$1.66 COP 6,916
417.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.32 $9.32
$3.2 COP 13.3K
191.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Monica, CA
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.09 COP 4,552
8.26%
White Bread (500g)
$4.45 $4.45
$1.24 COP 5,188
258.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$1.33 COP 5,544
237.59%
Eggs
$7.19 $7.19
$2.22 COP 9,252
223.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.47 $12.47
$4.55 COP 19K
174.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.7 $13.7
$5.71 COP 23.8K
139.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.46 $14.46
$8.59 COP 35.8K
68.34%
Apples (1kg)
$5.37 $5.37
$2.26 COP 9,410
137.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.07 COP 4,461
82.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.97 $3.97
$1.51 COP 6,293
162.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.73 $5.73
$1.42 COP 5,911
303.52%
Potato (1kg)
$2.98 $2.98
$1.11 COP 4,619
168.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.18 COP 4,932
107.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.82 $1.82
$0.89 COP 3,718
104.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$0.84 COP 3,507
152.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.83 $10.83
$2.35 COP 9,809
360.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.28 $15.28
$9.34 COP 38.9K
63.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 $2.53
$1.18 COP 4,927
114.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34 $5.34
$2.49 COP 10.4K
114.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Monica, CA
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.08 $2.08
$0.83 COP 3,464
150.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.5 $81.5
$41.9 COP 174.7K
94.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 $3.15
$1.41 COP 5,899
123.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.96 COP 8,164
-12.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.08 $29.08
$7.85 COP 32.7K
270.45%
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)
$23.8K $23.8K
$17.6K COP 73.4M
35.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$26.2K COP 109.2M
-2.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Monica, CA
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 $190
$82.5 COP 344.1K
129.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.4 $58.4
$9.44 COP 39.4K
519.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67 $67
$23.51 COP 98K
185.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Monica, CA
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$122 $122
$25.68 COP 107.1K
376.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.73 $44.73
$19.14 COP 79.8K
133.70%
Cinema Ticket
$18.03 $18.03
$3.96 COP 16.5K
355.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Monica, CA
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,791 $1,791
$305 COP 1.3M
487.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K $14.7K
$5,925 COP 24.7M
148.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Monica, CA
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8 $62.8
$57.9 COP 241.4K
8.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.08 $34.08
$31.59 COP 131.7K
7.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$103 COP 430.1K
-1.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 $153
$106 COP 440.5K
44.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Monica, CA
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,279 $3,279
$489 COP 2M
570.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,892 $2,892
$379 COP 1.6M
662.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,850 $6,850
$827 COP 3.4M
728.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,897 $5,897
$729 COP 3M
708.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.8K $10.8K
$2,190 COP 9.1M
392.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,171 $8,171
$1,532 COP 6.4M
433.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Monica, CA
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,229 $7,229
$550 COP 2.3M
1214.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.49
13.43
-51.68%

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

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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