Cost of Living Comparison Between Gulu and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Gulu and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $129 in Gulu versus $1,034 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $192 in Gulu versus $1,577 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $254 in Gulu versus $2,120 in Medellin.

Living in Gulu costs roughly 88% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gulu 90% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.36 UGX 5,028

$5.92 COP 21.5K

-77.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 119.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.60 UGX 46.6K

$7.20 COP 26.2K

75.00%

Cappuccino

$2.85 UGX 10.5K

$1.70 COP 6,186

67.65%

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

$0.29 UGX 1,073

$1.10 COP 3,996

-73.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 UGX 522

$0.72 COP 2,625

-80.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.80 UGX 2,954

$1.67 COP 6,067

-52.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 UGX 10.0K

$3.10 COP 11.3K

-12.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,837

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,531

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,060

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,229

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 32.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,159

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,911

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,563

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,987

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,109

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,067

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,080

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,305

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,477

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,342

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,617

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 UGX 4,169

$0.79 COP 2,859

43.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.93 UGX 121.8K

$41.13 COP 149.6K

-19.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,223

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,952

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 29.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 UGX 5,042

$0.94 COP 3,410

44.68%

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

$17.9K COP 65.2M

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

$26.8K COP 97.4M

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

$84.0 COP 305.4K

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

$9.60 COP 34.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 94.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 69.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.2K

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

$306 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 210.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 115.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 363.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 389.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 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 Gulu: April 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

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

Gulu vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gulu is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 700% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $194 in Gulu and $1,550 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

A monthly transit pass in Gulu runs roughly 25% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $129 per month in Gulu versus $1,034 in Medellin – a 700% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $129 in Gulu versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gulu but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Gulu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Gulu 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.

Expats usually find Gulu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 700% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.