🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,061 in Jeffreys Bay versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,654 in Jeffreys Bay versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,247 in Jeffreys Bay versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Jeffreys Bay costs roughly 37% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Jeffreys Bay is 22% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.62R 125
$8.02COP 25.0K
-4.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.95R 458
$47.87COP 149.4K
-41.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.08R 99.6
$9.89COP 30.8K
-38.52%
Cappuccino
$1.93R 31.63
$3.13COP 9,767
-38.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75R 12.25
$1.91COP 5,954
-60.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68R 11.08
$1.51COP 4,712
-54.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.01R 32.97
$3.12COP 9,747
-35.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06R 33.66
$5.75COP 17.9K
-64.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17R 19.18
$1.44COP 4,509
-18.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.08R 17.64
$2.49COP 7,759
-56.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51R 24.70
$1.77COP 5,535
-14.69%
Eggs
$2.78R 45.57
$2.96COP 9,235
-6.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.83R 112
$10.07COP 31.4K
-32.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.14R 84.2
$10.12COP 31.6K
-49.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.83R 128
$14.30COP 44.6K
-45.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.12R 34.64
$4.14COP 12.9K
-48.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51R 24.80
$1.61COP 5,019
-6.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74R 28.46
$2.25COP 7,007
-22.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.85R 30.25
$2.25COP 7,028
-17.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.80R 29.45
$2.04COP 6,375
-11.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27R 20.84
$1.54COP 4,790
-17.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.28R 20.99
$1.17COP 3,651
9.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02R 16.71
$1.31COP 4,077
-22.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.27R 53.6
$3.90COP 12.2K
-16.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.87R 63.5
$14.01COP 43.7K
-72.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31R 21.43
$1.74COP 5,439
-24.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81R 29.68
$2.87COP 8,956
-36.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.54R 25.24
$1.22COP 3,792
26.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.60R 9.83
$1.31COP 4,084
-54.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48R 7.82
$2.19COP 6,825
-78.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.50R 139
$8.71COP 27.2K
-2.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47R 24.11
$1.37COP 4,260
7.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9KR 358.2K
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
-21.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0KR 295.0K
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-49.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$129R 2,113
$177COP 553.2K
-27.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.46R 597
$13.88COP 43.3K
162.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.45R 777
$29.72COP 92.8K
59.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.92R 539
$44.88COP 140.1K
-26.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.10R 99.9
$17.12COP 53.4K
-64.37%
Cinema Ticket
$3.19R 52.3
$6.65COP 20.7K
-52.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$145R 2,380
$813COP 2.5M
-82.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,266R 102.6K
$9,187COP 28.7M
-31.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.7R 1,223
$89.5COP 279.3K
-16.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.77R 651
$59.0COP 184.0K
-32.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114R 1,860
$138COP 431.2K
-17.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100R 1,639
$102COP 318.7K
-2.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$438R 7,180
$1,062COP 3.3M
-58.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$345R 5,648
$663COP 2.1M
-47.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$808R 13.2K
$1,888COP 5.9M
-57.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723R 11.8K
$1,027COP 3.2M
-29.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$884R 14.5K
$4,183COP 13.1M
-78.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$693R 11.4K
$1,675COP 5.2M
-58.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$678COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.94
10.94
9.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jeffreys Bay: September 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $438 in Jeffreys Bay and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $28.00 in Jeffreys Bay vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $305 per month, with Jeffreys Bay 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
Jeffreys Bay vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Jeffreys Bay?
Jeffreys Bay is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 58% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,591 in Jeffreys Bay and $2,521 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.
What is the rent difference between Jeffreys Bay and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $438 in Jeffreys Bay versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Jeffreys Bay and in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 62% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Jeffreys Bay and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,061 per month in Jeffreys Bay versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Jeffreys Bay or in Medellin?
At $1,061 in Jeffreys Bay versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jeffreys Bay but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Jeffreys Bay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Jeffreys Bay or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Jeffreys Bay 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Jeffreys Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Jeffreys Bay vs other spots: cost of living compared