Cost of Living Comparison Between Fiji and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Fiji and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $694 in Fiji versus $1,031 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,182 in Fiji versus $1,599 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,670 in Fiji versus $2,167 in Medellin.

Living in Fiji costs roughly 33% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Fiji 48% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.54 FJD 10.15

$6.16 COP 20.0K

-26.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.27 FJD 99.1

$32.60 COP 106.0K

35.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.66 FJD 17.15

$7.34 COP 23.9K

4.36%

Cappuccino

$2.28 FJD 5.10

$1.72 COP 5,592

32.56%

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

$1.35 FJD 3.01

$1.05 COP 3,416

28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 FJD 2.58

$0.77 COP 2,511

49.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.81 FJD 6.30

$1.69 COP 5,480

66.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 FJD 7.57

$3.17 COP 10.3K

6.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 FJD 2.86

$1.05 COP 3,418

21.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 FJD 1.46

$1.30 COP 4,230

-50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 FJD 3.38

$1.40 COP 4,538

7.86%

Eggs

$2.22 FJD 4.97

$2.16 COP 7,037

2.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.80 FJD 24.17

$4.39 COP 14.3K

146.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.75 FJD 8.39

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-36.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.27 FJD 5.08

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-73.73%

Apples (1kg)

$1.74 FJD 3.88

$2.28 COP 7,415

-23.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 FJD 3.37

$1.11 COP 3,599

36.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 FJD 4.59

$1.53 COP 4,976

33.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 FJD 4.06

$1.35 COP 4,405

34.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.42 FJD 3.18

$1.13 COP 3,669

25.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 FJD 3.36

$1.13 COP 3,687

32.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 FJD 2.17

$0.85 COP 2,749

14.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 FJD 1.65

$0.91 COP 2,971

-18.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.32 FJD 25.34

$2.34 COP 7,619

383.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.38 FJD 14.28

$12.37 COP 40.2K

-48.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.76 FJD 6.18

$1.20 COP 3,904

130.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 FJD 5.47

$2.49 COP 8,094

-2.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 FJD 1.91

$0.84 COP 2,724

2.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 131.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.08 FJD 2.41

$1.42 COP 4,617

-23.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,227

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 FJD 2.83

$0.99 COP 3,219

28.28%

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

$46.0K FJD 103.0K

$18.0K COP 58.6M

155.21%

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

$26.6K COP 86.6M

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

$53.7 FJD 120

$80.8 COP 262.7K

-33.57%

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

$13.46 FJD 30.12

$9.95 COP 32.3K

35.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.50 FJD 39.17

$24.18 COP 78.6K

-27.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.24 FJD 49.77

$25.08 COP 81.5K

-11.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.52 FJD 10.12

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-76.40%

Cinema Ticket

$3.90 FJD 8.74

$3.98 COP 13.0K

-2.01%

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

$44.36 FJD 99.3

$305 COP 992.2K

-85.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.23 FJD 18.41

$58.1 COP 189.0K

-85.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$29.55 FJD 66.1

$101 COP 327.5K

-70.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$680 FJD 1,522

$477 COP 1.5M

42.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 FJD 587

$376 COP 1.2M

-30.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,101 FJD 2,465

$845 COP 2.7M

30.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$598 FJD 1,339

$730 COP 2.4M

-18.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,285 FJD 2,876

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-60.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,327 FJD 2,969

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-3.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$540 FJD 1,209

$617 COP 2.0M

-12.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-55.32%

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

Last update for Fiji: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $680 in Fiji and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 14% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $44.00 in Fiji vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $179 vs $193, with Fiji cheaper for home cooking.

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

Fiji vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Fiji is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 14% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $680 in Fiji versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $694 per month in Fiji versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $694 in Fiji versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Fiji but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Fiji the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Fiji is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Fiji and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Fiji gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.