🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $431 in Iganga versus $1,034 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $705 in Iganga versus $1,577 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $980 in Iganga versus $2,120 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, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.71UGX 10.0K
$5.92COP 21.5K
-54.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.14UGX 96.7K
$32.75COP 119.1K
-20.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47UGX 31.3K
$7.20COP 26.2K
17.64%
Cappuccino
$2.86UGX 10.6K
$1.70COP 6,186
68.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47UGX 1,754
$1.10COP 3,996
-57.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29UGX 1,054
$0.72COP 2,625
-59.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.40UGX 5,188
$1.67COP 6,067
-16.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86UGX 10.6K
$3.10COP 11.3K
-7.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.70UGX 2,582
$1.06COP 3,837
-33.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.20UGX 4,422
$1.25COP 4,531
-4.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40UGX 5,161
$1.39COP 5,060
0.72%
Eggs
$1.77UGX 6,552
$2.26COP 8,229
-21.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.28UGX 15.8K
$4.33COP 15.8K
-1.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.02UGX 18.6K
$5.84COP 21.2K
-14.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.34UGX 16.1K
$8.83COP 32.1K
-50.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70UGX 9,980
$2.24COP 8,159
20.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47UGX 5,452
$1.08COP 3,911
36.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74UGX 6,441
$1.53COP 5,563
13.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59UGX 5,868
$1.37COP 4,987
16.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64UGX 6,069
$1.13COP 4,109
45.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90UGX 7,036
$1.12COP 4,067
69.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07UGX 3,951
$0.85COP 3,080
25.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57UGX 2,117
$0.91COP 3,305
-37.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.84UGX 10.5K
$2.33COP 8,477
21.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.56UGX 35.4K
$11.13COP 40.5K
-14.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24UGX 4,598
$1.19COP 4,342
4.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15UGX 7,959
$2.37COP 8,617
-9.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.79COP 2,859
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.13COP 149.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.58UGX 2,132
$1.44COP 5,223
-59.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.26UGX 961
$1.91COP 6,952
-86.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.27UGX 15.8K
$8.02COP 29.2K
-46.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49UGX 5,505
$0.94COP 3,410
58.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,958UGX 33.1M
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
-50.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$8,660UGX 32.0M
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
-67.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.44UGX 153.2K
$84.0COP 305.4K
-50.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.22UGX 52.6K
$9.60COP 34.9K
48.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.58UGX 164.9K
$24.16COP 87.9K
84.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.88COP 94.1K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04COP 69.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20UGX 22.9K
$3.92COP 14.2K
58.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$164UGX 607.1K
$306COP 1.1M
-46.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,352UGX 16.1M
$5,919COP 21.5M
-26.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.97UGX 62.7K
$57.9COP 210.6K
-70.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.53UGX 53.7K
$31.82COP 115.7K
-54.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$38.09UGX 140.9K
$99.9COP 363.3K
-61.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.66UGX 172.5K
$107COP 389.7K
-56.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$487COP 1.8M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$368COP 1.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$826COP 3.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$716COP 2.6M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iganga
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$546COP 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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 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 $169 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
Is Medellin cheaper than Iganga?
Iganga is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 140% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $647 in Iganga 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $164 in Iganga versus $306 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 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 Iganga or Medellin?
At $431 in Iganga versus $1,034 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 140% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.