Cost of Living Comparison Between Spanish Town and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Spanish Town and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $859 per month in Spanish Town vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,446 per month in Spanish Town vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,032 per month in Spanish Town vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Spanish Town is about 14% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Spanish Town and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Spanish Town 35% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.69 JMD 1,210

$5.91 COP 18.9K

30.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.6 JMD 9,846

$32.96 COP 105.2K

89.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.56 JMD 1,347

$7.43 COP 23.7K

15.21%

Cappuccino

$4.40 JMD 692

$1.65 COP 5,276

166.67%

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

$1.31 JMD 206

$1.10 COP 3,514

19.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 JMD 110

$0.78 COP 2,491

-10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 382

$1.72 COP 5,484

41.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 JMD 488

$3.18 COP 10.1K

-2.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 JMD 301

$1.10 COP 3,521

74.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.57 JMD 404

$1.26 COP 4,015

103.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.43 JMD 67.2

$1.38 COP 4,407

-68.84%

Eggs

$3.04 JMD 479

$2.18 COP 6,950

39.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.10 JMD 487

$4.49 COP 14.3K

-30.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.91 JMD 300

$5.79 COP 18.5K

-67.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.74 JMD 431

$8.97 COP 28.6K

-69.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 JMD 343

$2.32 COP 7,405

-6.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 JMD 298

$1.06 COP 3,397

78.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 JMD 241

$1.52 COP 4,838

0.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 JMD 288

$1.36 COP 4,327

34.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 JMD 333

$1.13 COP 3,599

87.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 JMD 305

$1.17 COP 3,738

65.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.99 JMD 471

$0.90 COP 2,876

232.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 JMD 142

$0.90 COP 2,861

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.65 JMD 1,361

$2.23 COP 7,128

287.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.61 JMD 1,825

$12.12 COP 38.7K

-4.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 JMD 244

$1.19 COP 3,793

30.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 JMD 389

$2.48 COP 7,920

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 JMD 169

$1.42 COP 4,518

-23.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.15 JMD 495

$1.95 COP 6,223

61.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.35 JMD 999

$7.89 COP 25.2K

-19.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 JMD 193

$0.99 COP 3,160

23.23%

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

$43.0K JMD 6.8M

$17.6K COP 56.2M

144.31%

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

$32.9K JMD 5.2M

$26.8K COP 85.5M

22.78%

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

$166 JMD 26.2K

$83.0 COP 264.9K

100.55%

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

$22.08 JMD 3,473

$9.70 COP 30.9K

127.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.1 JMD 8,033

$23.52 COP 75.0K

117.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$12.93 JMD 2,034

$3.95 COP 12.6K

227.34%

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

$230 JMD 36.2K

$316 COP 1.0M

-27.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,516 JMD 395.8K

$5,975 COP 19.1M

-57.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.46 JMD 4,161

$60.0 COP 191.4K

-55.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.26 JMD 3,973

$31.82 COP 101.5K

-20.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.6 JMD 11.3K

$102 COP 324.4K

-29.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.1 JMD 12.1K

$107 COP 342.8K

-28.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$159 JMD 25.0K

$475 COP 1.5M

-66.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 JMD 19.3K

$374 COP 1.2M

-67.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$633 JMD 99.6K

$849 COP 2.7M

-25.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$380 JMD 59.8K

$719 COP 2.3M

-47.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,183 JMD 186.0K

$624 COP 2.0M

89.38%

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 Spanish Town: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $159 in Spanish Town versus $475 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 89% higher in Spanish Town, 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 $63.0 in Spanish Town versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $192 in Spanish Town vs $193 in Medellin – so Spanish Town 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

Spanish Town vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,289 per month in Spanish Town and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Spanish Town, 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 $63.0 in Spanish Town and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Spanish Town, where all-in costs run around $859, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Spanish Town it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Spanish Town. 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.