Medellín vs San Sebastián — Cost of Living Comparison 2026
Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.
NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data
San Sebastián edges out Medellín on affordability with a Cost of Living index of 7 vs 32.4 (US=100; very affordable vs very affordable). San Sebastián scores higher on safety (82/100), and San Sebastián wins on internet at ~160 Mbps. Overall, Medellín takes the Nomad Score crown with 80/100 — best for budget nomad and latam base.
Metric
Medellín
San Sebastián
Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)
US$580
US$1,100
Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)
US$360
US$800
Cost of Living (US=100)
32
7
Safety Score
48/100
82/100
Internet Speed
130 Mbps
160 Mbps
Nomad Score
80/100
75/100
Healthcare Score
70/100
80/100
Digital Nomad Visa
✓ Available
Not available
Who is each city for?
Medellín is better for…
Budget nomadLatAm baseSpring climateCommunity
See the Colombia country profileAlso compare
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