Cost of Living Comparison Between Juba and Medellin Cost 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
$19.92 SSP 56.1K
$8.04 COP 24.8K
147.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$48.29 COP 148.6K
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.68 SSP 27.2K
$9.42 COP 29.0K
2.76%
Cappuccino
$3.57 SSP 10.1K
$2.94 COP 9,040
21.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 SSP 4,260
$1.86 COP 5,735
-18.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.46 COP 4,479
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.21 COP 9,882
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.71 COP 17.6K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Juba
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$1.44 COP 4,428
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$2.40 COP 7,389
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$1.70 COP 5,228
-
Eggs
-
$2.89 COP 8,896
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$10.06 COP 30.9K
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$9.97 COP 30.7K
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$14.20 COP 43.7K
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$3.98 COP 12.3K
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.58 COP 4,878
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.15 COP 6,624
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.30 COP 7,078
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$2.00 COP 6,169
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$1.51 COP 4,646
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.20 COP 3,701
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.28 COP 3,946
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.84 COP 11.8K
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.01 COP 43.1K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.71 COP 5,256
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.74 COP 8,440
-
🚌 Getting Around
Juba
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.25 COP 3,834
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$77.9 COP 239.7K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.31 COP 4,016
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.17 COP 6,680
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.29 COP 25.5K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.36 COP 4,172
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.5K COP 84.5M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$36.5K COP 112.4M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Juba
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$169 COP 519.2K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.57 COP 41.8K
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$28.32 COP 87.2K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Juba
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$45.71 COP 140.7K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22 COP 53.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.65 COP 20.5K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Juba
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$803 COP 2.5M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$9,190 COP 28.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Juba
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$87.4 COP 268.8K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$59.4 COP 182.7K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$139 COP 427.5K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$102 COP 314.0K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Juba
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,071 COP 3.3M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$653 COP 2.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,925 COP 5.9M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,048 COP 3.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,123 COP 12.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,697 COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Juba
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,801 SSP 5.1M
$655 COP 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.

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