πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,009 in Jeffreys Bay versus $1,034 in Medellin.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,542 in Jeffreys Bay versus $1,577 in Medellin.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,076 in Jeffreys Bay versus $2,120 in Medellin.
πLiving in Jeffreys Bay costs roughly 2% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Jeffreys Bay25% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.70RΒ 95.6
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
-3.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.05RΒ 571
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
3.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.58RΒ 93.5
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
-22.50%
Cappuccino
$1.76RΒ 29.45
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
3.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73RΒ 12.18
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
-33.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98RΒ 16.47
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
36.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.79RΒ 30.06
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
7.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77RΒ 29.66
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
-42.90%
π Groceries & Markets
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03RΒ 17.30
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
-2.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00RΒ 16.81
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
-20.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63RΒ 27.39
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
17.27%
Eggs
$2.58RΒ 43.35
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
14.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.19RΒ 104
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
42.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.57RΒ 76.6
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
-21.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.94RΒ 116
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
-21.40%
Apples(1kg)
$1.86RΒ 31.14
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
-16.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47RΒ 24.62
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
36.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50RΒ 25.10
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
-1.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57RΒ 26.34
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
14.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36RΒ 22.74
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
20.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18RΒ 19.85
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
5.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10RΒ 18.43
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
29.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08RΒ 18.15
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
18.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.84RΒ 47.71
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
21.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.85RΒ 64.6
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
-65.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43RΒ 23.97
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
20.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79RΒ 30.08
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
-24.47%
π Getting Around
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69RΒ 28.38
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
113.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14RΒ 19.13
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
-20.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90RΒ 15.14
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
-52.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.97RΒ 66.6
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
-50.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22RΒ 20.51
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
29.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4KRΒ 358.5K
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
19.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KRΒ 398.8K
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
-11.25%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137RΒ 2,302
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
63.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.2RΒ 925
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
474.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.6RΒ 999
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
146.65%
π Sport & Entertainment
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.50RΒ 512
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
17.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.76RΒ 96.5
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
-69.75%
Cinema Ticket
$6.62RΒ 111
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
68.88%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$127RΒ 2,132
$306COPΒ 1.1M
-58.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,355RΒ 73.0K
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
-26.42%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.78RΒ 835
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
-14.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.24RΒ 541
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
1.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.3RΒ 1,515
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
-9.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4RΒ 1,332
$107COPΒ 386.8K
-25.86%
π Accommodation & Living
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$361RΒ 6,053
$487COPΒ 1.8M
-25.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331RΒ 5,550
$368COPΒ 1.3M
-10.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$694RΒ 11.6K
$826COPΒ 3.0M
-15.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$585RΒ 9,816
$716COPΒ 2.6M
-18.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$869RΒ 14.6K
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
-70.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$601RΒ 10.1K
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
-57.25%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Jeffreys Bay
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$546COPΒ 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.51
13.43
-14.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jeffreys Bay: April 25, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $361 in Jeffreys Bay and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $34.00 in Jeffreys Bay vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $174 vs $190, with Jeffreys Bay cheaper for home cooking.
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, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,514 in Jeffreys Bay 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.
What is the rent difference between Jeffreys Bay and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $361 in Jeffreys Bay versus $487 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 Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% 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 vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,009 per month in Jeffreys Bay versus $1,034 in Medellin β a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Jeffreys Bay or Medellin?
At $1,009 in Jeffreys Bay versus $1,034 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 β expenses run 2% 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