😐A single person spends $2,214 per month in St. Julians vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,325 per month in St. Julians vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,436 per month in St. Julians vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐St. Julians costs about 115% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊St. Julians sits 66% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
St. Julians
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.24€15.99
$6.16COP 19.8K
196.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.4€69.6
$32.60COP 104.8K
143.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.46€10.04
$7.34COP 23.6K
56.13%
Cappuccino
$2.95€2.58
$1.72COP 5,527
71.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.35
$1.05COP 3,376
155.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75€1.53
$0.77COP 2,482
127.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.66€4.09
$1.69COP 5,417
175.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57€4.01
$3.17COP 10.2K
44.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
St. Julians
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.19
$1.05COP 3,379
29.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47€1.29
$1.30COP 4,181
13.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.38€2.96
$1.40COP 4,485
141.43%
Eggs
$3.62€3.18
$2.16COP 6,956
67.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.86€7.76
$4.39COP 14.1K
101.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.74€9.41
$5.88COP 18.9K
82.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.05€12.32
$8.64COP 27.8K
62.62%
Apples(1kg)
$3.22€2.82
$2.28COP 7,330
41.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.99€1.75
$1.11COP 3,557
79.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.87€2.52
$1.53COP 4,918
87.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.23€2.83
$1.35COP 4,353
139.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.86€1.63
$1.13COP 3,627
64.60%
Onion(1kg)
$2.82€2.47
$1.13COP 3,644
149.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.86€1.63
$0.85COP 2,717
118.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87€0.76
$0.91COP 2,937
-4.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.34€5.56
$2.34COP 7,531
170.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.98€5.24
$12.37COP 39.7K
-51.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17€1.90
$1.20COP 3,859
80.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85€1.62
$2.49COP 8,000
-25.70%
🚌 Getting Around
St. Julians
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.33€2.04
$0.84COP 2,692
177.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.57COP 130.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.99€6.13
$1.42COP 4,563
392.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.86€0.75
$1.92COP 6,155
-55.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.24€36.16
$7.66COP 24.6K
438.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51€1.33
$0.99COP 3,181
52.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K€22.6K
$18.0KCOP 57.9M
43.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K€24.6K
$26.6KCOP 85.6M
5.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
St. Julians
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.4€67.0
$80.8COP 259.7K
-5.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.09€25.50
$9.95COP 32.0K
192.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.55€29.41
$24.18COP 77.7K
38.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
St. Julians
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$105€91.8
$25.08COP 80.6K
317.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.16€32.58
$19.15COP 61.5K
94.05%
Cinema Ticket
$10.31€9.04
$3.98COP 12.8K
159.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
St. Julians
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$575€504
$305COP 980.7K
88.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4K€10.0K
$6,059COP 19.5M
88.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
St. Julians
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€91.1
$58.1COP 186.8K
78.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$72.9€63.9
$32.20COP 103.5K
126.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117€103
$101COP 323.7K
16.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$187€164
$108COP 346.3K
73.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
St. Julians
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,363€1,195
$477COP 1.5M
186.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,127€988
$376COP 1.2M
199.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,282€2,001
$845COP 2.7M
170.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,782€1,563
$730COP 2.3M
143.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,944€3,458
$3,215COP 10.3M
22.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,642€2,317
$1,372COP 4.4M
92.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
St. Julians
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,050€1,798
$617COP 2.0M
232.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.87
13.43
-63.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for St. Julians: July 11, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,363 in St. Julians versus $477 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 232% higher in St. Julians, 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 $79.0 in St. Julians versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 vs $193 – 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
St. Julians vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than St. Julians?
Yes – St. Julians is pricier by about 115%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,320 per month in St. Julians and $1,546 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.
Is eating out cheaper in St. Julians or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in St. Julians and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in St. Julians and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 50% more in St. Julians, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in St. Julians or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in St. Julians at $2,214. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in St. Julians it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is St. Julians 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 safer, St. Julians or Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
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, St. Julians makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
St. Julians vs other spots: cost of living compared