Cost of Living Comparison Between Juba and MedellinCost of Living Comparison Between Juba and Medellin
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $236 per month in Juba vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $369 per month in Juba vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $502 per month in Juba vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Juba is about 86% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Juba sits 83% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Juba
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.92SSP 56.1K
$8.04COP 24.8K
147.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$48.29COP 148.6K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68SSP 27.2K
$9.42COP 29.0K
2.76%
Cappuccino
$3.57SSP 10.1K
$2.94COP 9,040
21.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51SSP 4,260
$1.86COP 5,735
-18.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.46COP 4,479
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.21COP 9,882
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.71COP 17.6K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Juba
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.44COP 4,428
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$2.40COP 7,389
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.70COP 5,228
-
Eggs
-
$2.89COP 8,896
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$10.06COP 30.9K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$9.97COP 30.7K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$14.20COP 43.7K
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$3.98COP 12.3K
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.58COP 4,878
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.15COP 6,624
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.30COP 7,078
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$2.00COP 6,169
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.51COP 4,646
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.20COP 3,701
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.28COP 3,946
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.84COP 11.8K
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$14.01COP 43.1K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.71COP 5,256
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.74COP 8,440
-
🚌 Getting Around
Juba
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.25COP 3,834
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.31COP 4,016
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.17COP 6,680
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.29COP 25.5K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.36COP 4,172
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Juba
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$169COP 519.2K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.57COP 41.8K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$28.32COP 87.2K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Juba
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$45.71COP 140.7K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.65COP 20.5K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Juba
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$803COP 2.5M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$9,190COP 28.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Juba
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$87.4COP 268.8K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$59.4COP 182.7K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$139COP 427.5K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$102COP 314.0K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Juba
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,071COP 3.3M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$653COP 2.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,925COP 5.9M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,048COP 3.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,123COP 12.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Juba
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,801SSP 5.1M
$655COP 2.0M
174.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
10.94
9.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Juba: September 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 175% higher in Juba, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
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
Juba vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Juba?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 594%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $355 per month in Juba and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Juba or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Juba, where all-in costs run around $236, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Juba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Juba or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Juba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Juba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.