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 $838 per month in Spanish Town vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,404 per month in Spanish Town vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,970 per month in Spanish Town vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Spanish Town is about 18% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Spanish Town and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Spanish Town 38% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.30 JMD 1,149

$5.95 COP 20.8K

22.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.6 JMD 9,679

$33.33 COP 116.3K

84.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.52 JMD 1,340

$7.23 COP 25.2K

17.84%

Cappuccino

$4.44 JMD 699

$1.63 COP 5,687

172.39%

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

$1.33 JMD 208

$1.09 COP 3,821

22.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 120

$0.73 COP 2,548

4.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 404

$1.74 COP 6,065

47.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 JMD 500

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-1.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 JMD 299

$1.05 COP 3,662

80.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.58 JMD 405

$1.29 COP 4,515

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.42 JMD 66.3

$1.32 COP 4,617

-68.18%

Eggs

$3.22 JMD 507

$2.27 COP 7,927

41.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.14 JMD 494

$4.35 COP 15.2K

-27.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.98 JMD 311

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-66.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.80 JMD 440

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-67.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.21 JMD 347

$2.25 COP 7,844

-1.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 JMD 291

$1.07 COP 3,733

72.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 JMD 252

$1.52 COP 5,322

5.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 JMD 287

$1.42 COP 4,964

28.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 JMD 332

$1.17 COP 4,084

80.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 JMD 304

$1.17 COP 4,077

64.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.97 JMD 468

$0.89 COP 3,096

233.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 JMD 144

$0.90 COP 3,146

2.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.76 JMD 1,377

$2.25 COP 7,837

289.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.40 JMD 1,793

$11.04 COP 38.5K

3.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 JMD 243

$1.14 COP 3,977

35.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 JMD 389

$2.38 COP 8,301

3.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 JMD 178

$1.41 COP 4,912

-19.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.24 JMD 509

$1.90 COP 6,634

70.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.33 JMD 995

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-18.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 201

$1.01 COP 3,509

26.73%

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

$42.2K JMD 6.6M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

140.29%

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

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

28.52%

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

$162 JMD 25.5K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

93.55%

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

$21.92 JMD 3,448

$9.45 COP 33.0K

131.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.8 JMD 7,982

$24.11 COP 84.1K

110.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 JMD 2,078

$4.10 COP 14.3K

222.20%

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

$226 JMD 35.6K

$312 COP 1.1M

-27.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,483 JMD 390.4K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-58.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.33 JMD 4,141

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-54.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.43 JMD 4,000

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-21.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 JMD 11.4K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-27.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.2 JMD 12.1K

$109 COP 378.8K

-28.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$156 JMD 24.5K

$482 COP 1.7M

-67.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 JMD 19.4K

$379 COP 1.3M

-67.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 JMD 97.0K

$837 COP 2.9M

-26.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 JMD 59.1K

$723 COP 2.5M

-48.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,160 JMD 182.5K

$541 COP 1.9M

114.53%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $156 in Spanish Town versus $482 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 115% 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 $62.0 in Spanish Town versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $190 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 21%, 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 $1,257 per month in Spanish Town and $1,525 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 $62.0 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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Spanish Town, where all-in costs run around $838, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.