Cost of Living Comparison Between Avarua and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Avarua and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $851 per month in Avarua vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,380 per month in Avarua vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,910 per month in Avarua vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Avarua is about 15% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Avarua and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Avarua 36% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.3 NZ$106

$32.96 COP 105.2K

85.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.99 NZ$15.50

$7.43 COP 23.7K

21.00%

Cappuccino

$3.69 NZ$6.35

$1.65 COP 5,276

123.64%

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

$2.64 NZ$4.56

$1.10 COP 3,514

140.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 NZ$4.24

$0.78 COP 2,491

215.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 NZ$10.30

$1.72 COP 5,484

247.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 NZ$8.52

$3.18 COP 10.1K

55.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 NZ$3.14

$1.10 COP 3,521

65.45%

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 NZ$5.98

$1.26 COP 4,015

175.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 NZ$3.16

$1.38 COP 4,407

32.61%

Eggs

$5.23 NZ$9.01

$2.18 COP 6,950

139.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.15 NZ$20.94

$4.49 COP 14.3K

170.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.20 NZ$14.13

$5.79 COP 18.5K

41.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.03 NZ$19.00

$8.97 COP 28.6K

22.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 NZ$5.15

$2.32 COP 7,405

28.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 NZ$3.14

$1.06 COP 3,397

71.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.52 NZ$6.07

$1.52 COP 4,838

131.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.79 NZ$16.87

$1.36 COP 4,327

619.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.05 NZ$5.26

$1.13 COP 3,599

169.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 NZ$4.12

$1.17 COP 3,738

104.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 NZ$4.10

$0.90 COP 2,876

164.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 NZ$5.07

$0.90 COP 2,861

226.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

Wine (Bottle)

$14.18 NZ$24.43

$12.12 COP 38.7K

17.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 NZ$7.84

$2.48 COP 7,920

83.47%

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)

$1.42 COP 4,518

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

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

$119 NZ$205

$83.0 COP 264.9K

43.09%

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

$9.70 COP 30.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

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

$316 COP 1.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.8 NZ$119

$60.0 COP 191.4K

14.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 NZ$126

$107 COP 342.8K

-31.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$158 NZ$272

$475 COP 1.5M

-66.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 NZ$269

$374 COP 1.2M

-58.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$174 NZ$299

$849 COP 2.7M

-79.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 NZ$389

$719 COP 2.3M

-68.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,046 NZ$8,695

$3,265 COP 10.4M

54.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$725 NZ$1,250

$1,441 COP 4.6M

-49.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Avarua: July 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $158 in Avarua 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Avarua versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $377 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

Avarua vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 18% more than Avarua, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,276 per month in Avarua 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 Avarua, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $851 in Avarua and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 95% 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 Avarua, where all-in costs run around $851, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Avarua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Avarua costs $851 versus $1,003 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Avarua. 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.