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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $850 per month in Avarua vs $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Avarua vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,870 per month in Avarua vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Avarua is about 17% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Avarua and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Avarua 37% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.2K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.2 NZ$100

$33.17 COP 118.7K

78.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.80 NZ$14.88

$7.25 COP 25.9K

21.38%

Cappuccino

$3.52 NZ$5.95

$1.71 COP 6,137

105.85%

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

$2.63 NZ$4.44

$1.09 COP 3,915

141.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 NZ$4.00

$0.77 COP 2,743

207.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.72 NZ$9.66

$1.75 COP 6,254

226.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 NZ$8.27

$3.18 COP 11.4K

53.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 NZ$3.08

$1.06 COP 3,792

71.70%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 NZ$6.05

$1.30 COP 4,657

175.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 NZ$3.13

$1.38 COP 4,926

34.06%

Eggs

$5.00 NZ$8.46

$2.21 COP 7,908

126.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.97 NZ$20.23

$4.52 COP 16.2K

164.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.41 NZ$14.21

$5.80 COP 20.7K

45.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 NZ$18.57

$8.97 COP 32.1K

22.52%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 NZ$5.19

$2.29 COP 8,182

34.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 NZ$3.00

$1.06 COP 3,791

67.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.71 NZ$6.27

$1.51 COP 5,411

145.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$9.64 NZ$16.29

$1.36 COP 4,869

608.82%

Potato (1kg)

$3.06 NZ$5.17

$1.16 COP 4,146

163.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 NZ$3.95

$1.17 COP 4,174

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 NZ$3.98

$0.83 COP 2,960

184.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 NZ$5.05

$0.85 COP 3,043

251.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 8,423

Wine (Bottle)

$14.69 NZ$24.82

$11.09 COP 39.7K

32.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 4,133

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 NZ$7.55

$2.47 COP 8,853

80.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,827

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.85 COP 149.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,140

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,793

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 COP 3,680

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

$17.7K COP 63.3M

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

$27.0K COP 96.7M

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

$119 NZ$201

$81.4 COP 291.4K

45.96%

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

$9.42 COP 33.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.77 COP 85.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.86 COP 92.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 COP 69.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.05 COP 14.5K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,067 COP 21.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.4 NZ$116

$58.9 COP 210.7K

16.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.82 COP 117.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 COP 359.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.3 NZ$127

$106 COP 380.3K

-29.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$156 NZ$263

$490 COP 1.8M

-68.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 NZ$266

$371 COP 1.3M

-57.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$174 NZ$295

$838 COP 3.0M

-79.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$229 NZ$387

$715 COP 2.6M

-67.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,988 NZ$8,429

$2,952 COP 10.6M

68.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$760 NZ$1,285

$1,394 COP 5.0M

-45.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$532 COP 1.9M

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $156 in Avarua versus $490 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 $59 in Avarua versus $33 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $379 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

Avarua vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 21% 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 $1,275 per month in Avarua and $1,544 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 $850 in Avarua and $1,030 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 99% 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 $850, than in Medellin at $1,030. 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 $850 versus $1,030 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.