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 $861 per month in Spanish Town vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,433 per month in Spanish Town vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,005 per month in Spanish Town vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Spanish Town is about 17% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Spanish Town and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Spanish Town 36% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.35 JMD 1,158

$5.92 COP 21.5K

24.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.3 JMD 9,809

$32.75 COP 119.1K

90.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.78 JMD 1,383

$7.20 COP 26.2K

21.94%

Cappuccino

$4.47 JMD 704

$1.70 COP 6,186

162.94%

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

$1.30 JMD 205

$1.10 COP 3,996

18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 JMD 118

$0.72 COP 2,625

4.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 406

$1.67 COP 6,067

53.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 JMD 490

$3.10 COP 11.3K

0.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 JMD 291

$1.06 COP 3,837

74.53%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 JMD 421

$1.25 COP 4,531

113.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.45 JMD 71.1

$1.39 COP 5,060

-67.63%

Eggs

$3.22 JMD 507

$2.26 COP 8,229

42.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.19 JMD 503

$4.33 COP 15.8K

-26.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.99 JMD 314

$5.84 COP 21.2K

-65.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.79 JMD 439

$8.83 COP 32.1K

-68.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 JMD 353

$2.24 COP 8,159

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 JMD 294

$1.08 COP 3,911

73.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 JMD 242

$1.53 COP 5,563

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 JMD 305

$1.37 COP 4,987

41.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 JMD 333

$1.13 COP 4,109

87.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 JMD 314

$1.12 COP 4,067

77.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.02 JMD 476

$0.85 COP 3,080

255.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 JMD 144

$0.91 COP 3,305

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.91 JMD 1,404

$2.33 COP 8,477

282.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.36 JMD 1,789

$11.13 COP 40.5K

2.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 JMD 242

$1.19 COP 4,342

29.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 JMD 388

$2.37 COP 8,617

4.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,859

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 149.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 JMD 175

$1.44 COP 5,223

-22.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.27 JMD 514

$1.91 COP 6,952

71.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 JMD 988

$8.02 COP 29.2K

-21.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 JMD 202

$0.94 COP 3,410

36.17%

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

$42.7K JMD 6.7M

$17.9K COP 65.2M

138.12%

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

$34.0K JMD 5.3M

$26.8K COP 97.4M

26.75%

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

$161 JMD 25.3K

$84.0 COP 305.4K

91.66%

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

$22.23 JMD 3,501

$9.60 COP 34.9K

131.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.1 JMD 7,882

$24.16 COP 87.9K

107.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 94.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 69.3K

Cinema Ticket

$13.11 JMD 2,064

$3.92 COP 14.2K

234.44%

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

$225 JMD 35.4K

$306 COP 1.1M

-26.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,457 JMD 386.9K

$5,919 COP 21.5M

-58.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.73 JMD 4,052

$57.9 COP 210.6K

-55.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.06 JMD 3,947

$31.82 COP 115.7K

-21.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 JMD 11.1K

$99.9 COP 363.3K

-29.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.7 JMD 12.2K

$107 COP 389.7K

-27.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$156 JMD 24.5K

$487 COP 1.8M

-68.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$128 JMD 20.1K

$368 COP 1.3M

-65.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$638 JMD 100.5K

$826 COP 3.0M

-22.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 JMD 58.8K

$716 COP 2.6M

-47.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,166 JMD 183.7K

$546 COP 2.0M

113.81%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $156 in Spanish Town versus $487 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 114% 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: $195 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 20%, 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 $1,292 per month in Spanish Town and $1,550 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 3% 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 $861, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.