Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sault Ste. Marie and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,625 a month against $2,059 in Sault Ste. Marie, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sault Ste. Marie
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,059
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sault Ste. Marie and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sault Ste. Marie and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,059 per month in Sault Ste. Marie vs $1,625 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sault Ste. Marie $2,059
  • Medellin $1,625

A couple spends around $3,008 per month in Sault Ste. Marie vs $2,412 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sault Ste. Marie $3,008
  • Medellin $2,412

A family of three spends $3,956 per month in Sault Ste. Marie vs $3,199 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Sault Ste. Marie $3,956
  • Medellin $3,199

Sault Ste. Marie costs about 27% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Sault Ste. Marie and Medellin sit above the global median – Sault Ste. Marie by 52%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sault Ste. Marie
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.17 CA$24.28
$8.30 COP 26.3K
106.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.6 CA$99.8
$46.91 COP 148.7K
50.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.23 CA$14.46
$9.24 COP 29.3K
10.71%
Cappuccino
$3.47 CA$4.90
$3.05 COP 9,676
13.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 CA$2.32
$1.80 COP 5,707
-8.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 CA$1.91
$1.38 COP 4,382
-2.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.68 CA$6.62
$3.24 COP 10.3K
44.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.00 CA$7.07
$5.56 COP 17.6K
-10.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sault Ste. Marie
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.42 CA$3.43
$1.50 COP 4,760
61.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.14 CA$3.02
$2.37 COP 7,508
-9.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.27 CA$4.63
$1.70 COP 5,377
92.35%
Eggs
$2.98 CA$4.22
$2.96 COP 9,379
0.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 CA$11.76
$10.22 COP 32.4K
-18.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 CA$14.10
$9.74 COP 30.9K
2.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.51 CA$14.86
$13.90 COP 44.1K
-24.39%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 CA$4.43
$4.13 COP 13.1K
-23.97%
Banana (1kg)
$0.99 CA$1.40
$1.53 COP 4,839
-35.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.06 CA$4.33
$2.22 COP 7,052
37.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.54 CA$5.01
$2.27 COP 7,194
55.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 CA$2.79
$1.99 COP 6,311
-1.01%
Onion (1kg)
$1.69 CA$2.39
$1.67 COP 5,285
1.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.77 CA$3.92
$1.18 COP 3,742
134.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 CA$1.79
$1.24 COP 3,919
2.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.75 CA$22.26
$3.87 COP 12.3K
306.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.67 CA$15.08
$13.78 COP 43.7K
-22.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 CA$2.60
$1.66 COP 5,256
10.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 CA$3.23
$2.40 COP 7,615
-5.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Sault Ste. Marie
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.24 CA$3.16
$1.24 COP 3,944
80.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.5 CA$81.2
$78.2 COP 248.0K
-26.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.47 CA$4.91
$1.28 COP 4,044
171.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.31 CA$3.26
$2.15 COP 6,803
7.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.97 CA$32.47
$8.37 COP 26.5K
174.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 CA$1.52
$1.35 COP 4,288
-20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K CA$37.5K
$34.8K COP 110.2M
-23.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K CA$28.6K
$34.7K COP 110.0M
-41.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sault Ste. Marie
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$174 CA$246
$167 COP 528.4K
4.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.36 CA$62.7
$13.62 COP 43.2K
225.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.7 CA$108
$29.12 COP 92.3K
163.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sault Ste. Marie
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.3 CA$71.0
$45.09 COP 143.0K
11.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.62 CA$24.90
$17.18 COP 54.5K
2.56%
Cinema Ticket
$11.18 CA$15.80
$6.97 COP 22.1K
60.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sault Ste. Marie
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$790 COP 2.5M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,984 CA$7,046
$9,041 COP 28.7M
-44.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sault Ste. Marie
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.63 CA$64.5
$87.8 COP 278.4K
-48.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.58 CA$50.3
$58.2 COP 184.4K
-38.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.8 CA$106
$139 COP 440.7K
-46.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 CA$170
$98.9 COP 313.5K
21.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sault Ste. Marie
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$893 CA$1,262
$1,028 COP 3.3M
-13.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$931 CA$1,316
$620 COP 2.0M
50.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,325 CA$1,873
$1,881 COP 6.0M
-29.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,455 CA$2,057
$1,008 COP 3.2M
44.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,868 CA$2,640
$3,988 COP 12.6M
-53.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,432 CA$7,679
$1,702 COP 5.4M
219.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sault Ste. Marie
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,049 CA$4,310
$663 COP 2.1M
359.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.53
10.94
-49.45%

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

Last update for Sault Ste. Marie: October 20, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sault Ste. Marie
$931
Medellin
$619 33.5% $312
Groceries & Markets
Sault Ste. Marie
$299
Medellin
$298 0.5% $1.4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sault Ste. Marie
$295
Medellin
$209 29.1% $86
Eating Out
Sault Ste. Marie
$255
Medellin
$171 33% $84
Clothing & Footwear
Sault Ste. Marie
$124
Medellin
$173 39% $48
Getting Around
Sault Ste. Marie
$81
Medellin
$95 16.9% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Sault Ste. Marie
$73
Medellin
$59 18.7% $14

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $893 in Sault Ste. Marie versus $1,028 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 360% higher in Sault Ste. Marie, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $71.0 in Sault Ste. Marie versus $47.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $298 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Sault Ste. Marie
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
10:58 10:58 AM
09:58 9:58 AM
1 h behind Sault Ste. Marie
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
73,368
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sault Ste. Marie Medellin 4,550 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sault Ste. Marie
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Sault Ste. Marie vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sault Ste. Marie?
Yes – Sault Ste. Marie is pricier by about 27%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,089 per month in Sault Ste. Marie and $2,437 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 36% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do food prices compare in Sault Ste. Marie and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 0% more in Sault Ste. Marie, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Sault Ste. Marie or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,625, than in Sault Ste. Marie at $2,059. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sault Ste. Marie it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sault Ste. Marie or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sault Ste. Marie makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Sault Ste. Marie vs other spots: cost of living compared

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