🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $425 in Iganga versus $1,003 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $685 in Iganga versus $1,573 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $945 in Iganga versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Iganga costs roughly 58% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Iganga68% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.82UGX 10.6K
$5.91COP 18.9K
-52.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.13UGX 98.0K
$32.96COP 105.2K
-20.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76UGX 32.9K
$7.43COP 23.7K
17.90%
Cappuccino
$2.84UGX 10.6K
$1.65COP 5,276
72.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50UGX 1,887
$1.10COP 3,514
-54.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29UGX 1,080
$0.78COP 2,491
-62.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.41UGX 5,299
$1.72COP 5,484
-18.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75UGX 10.3K
$3.18COP 10.1K
-13.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.71UGX 2,646
$1.10COP 3,521
-35.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22UGX 4,568
$1.26COP 4,015
-3.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34UGX 5,030
$1.38COP 4,407
-2.90%
Eggs
$1.76UGX 6,607
$2.18COP 6,950
-19.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.25UGX 15.9K
$4.49COP 14.3K
-5.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.05UGX 19.0K
$5.79COP 18.5K
-12.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.29UGX 16.1K
$8.97COP 28.6K
-52.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70UGX 10.1K
$2.32COP 7,405
16.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48UGX 5,561
$1.06COP 3,397
39.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74UGX 6,545
$1.52COP 4,838
14.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55UGX 5,800
$1.36COP 4,327
13.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.57UGX 5,884
$1.13COP 3,599
38.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88UGX 7,045
$1.17COP 3,738
60.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01UGX 3,801
$0.90COP 2,876
12.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53UGX 1,997
$0.90COP 2,861
-41.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87UGX 10.8K
$2.23COP 7,128
28.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.08UGX 30.3K
$12.12COP 38.7K
-33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17UGX 4,409
$1.19COP 3,793
-1.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03UGX 7,609
$2.48COP 7,920
-18.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.85COP 2,723
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.62COP 132.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57UGX 2,149
$1.42COP 4,518
-59.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28UGX 1,055
$1.95COP 6,223
-85.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.28UGX 16.0K
$7.89COP 25.2K
-45.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44UGX 5,394
$0.99COP 3,160
45.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$9,183UGX 34.5M
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
-47.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$8,605UGX 32.3M
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
-67.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.58UGX 156.0K
$83.0COP 264.9K
-49.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.49UGX 54.4K
$9.70COP 30.9K
49.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.87UGX 164.6K
$23.52COP 75.0K
86.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.26COP 80.6K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10COP 60.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.29UGX 23.6K
$3.95COP 12.6K
59.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$163UGX 610.0K
$316COP 1.0M
-48.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,295UGX 16.1M
$5,975COP 19.1M
-28.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.20UGX 64.5K
$60.0COP 191.4K
-71.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.42UGX 54.1K
$31.82COP 101.5K
-54.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$39.21UGX 147.1K
$102COP 324.4K
-61.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.31UGX 177.5K
$107COP 342.8K
-55.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$475COP 1.5M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$374COP 1.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$849COP 2.7M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$719COP 2.3M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,265COP 10.4M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,441COP 4.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$624COP 2.0M
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 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 $165 vs $193 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
Is Medellin cheaper than Iganga?
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.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $638 in Iganga and $1,504 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $163 in Iganga versus $316 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Iganga or in Medellin?
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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Iganga or in Medellin?
At $425 in Iganga versus $1,003 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.
Is Iganga or Medellin more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Iganga or Medellin?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
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.