Cost of Living Comparison Between Iganga and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Iganga and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $430 in Iganga versus $1,017 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $702 in Iganga versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $974 in Iganga versus $2,188 in Medellin.

Living in Iganga costs roughly 58% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Iganga 68% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.76 UGX 10.3K

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-53.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.21 UGX 98.2K

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-21.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.60 UGX 32.2K

$7.23 COP 25.2K

18.95%

Cappuccino

$2.72 UGX 10.2K

$1.63 COP 5,687

66.87%

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

$0.47 UGX 1,764

$1.09 COP 3,821

-56.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 UGX 1,086

$0.73 COP 2,548

-60.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 UGX 5,142

$1.74 COP 6,065

-21.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 UGX 10.3K

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-15.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 UGX 2,644

$1.05 COP 3,662

-32.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 UGX 4,697

$1.29 COP 4,515

-3.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 UGX 4,988

$1.32 COP 4,617

0.76%

Eggs

$1.77 UGX 6,648

$2.27 COP 7,927

-22.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.38 UGX 16.4K

$4.35 COP 15.2K

0.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.97 UGX 18.6K

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-15.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.18 UGX 15.7K

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-51.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.77 UGX 10.4K

$2.25 COP 7,844

23.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 UGX 5,769

$1.07 COP 3,733

43.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 UGX 6,413

$1.52 COP 5,322

12.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 UGX 5,681

$1.42 COP 4,964

7.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 UGX 6,103

$1.17 COP 4,084

39.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.87 UGX 7,002

$1.17 COP 4,077

59.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 UGX 3,967

$0.89 COP 3,096

19.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 UGX 2,196

$0.90 COP 3,146

-34.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.87 UGX 10.8K

$2.25 COP 7,837

27.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.48 UGX 31.8K

$11.04 COP 38.5K

-23.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 UGX 4,495

$1.14 COP 3,977

5.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 UGX 8,046

$2.38 COP 8,301

-9.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 UGX 2,148

$1.41 COP 4,912

-59.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 UGX 962

$1.90 COP 6,634

-86.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.12 UGX 15.4K

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-46.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 UGX 5,602

$1.01 COP 3,509

47.52%

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

$9,177 UGX 34.4M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

-47.80%

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

$8,622 UGX 32.3M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

-67.46%

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

$42.75 UGX 160.2K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-48.91%

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

$14.65 UGX 54.9K

$9.45 COP 33.0K

55.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.77 UGX 164.0K

$24.11 COP 84.1K

81.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$6.28 UGX 23.5K

$4.10 COP 14.3K

53.17%

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

$162 UGX 607.2K

$312 COP 1.1M

-48.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,258 UGX 16.0M

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-28.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.93 UGX 63.4K

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-70.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.51 UGX 54.4K

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-55.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.28 UGX 143.5K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-61.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.49 UGX 178.0K

$109 COP 378.8K

-56.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.8

13.43

54.88%

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

Last update for Iganga: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Iganga vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $167 vs $190 per month, with Iganga cheaper across the board.

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

Iganga vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iganga is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 136% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $645 in Iganga and $1,525 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.

Childcare runs $162 in Iganga versus $312 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Iganga – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $430 in Iganga versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Iganga but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Iganga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Iganga 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, Iganga 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 Iganga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 136% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.