Cost of Living Comparison Between Manzini and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Manzini and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $319 per month in Manzini vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $472 per month in Manzini vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $625 per month in Manzini vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Manzini is about 68% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Manzini and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Manzini 76% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,514

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 SZL 19.61

$1.10 COP 3,521

7.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 SZL 14.16

$1.26 COP 4,015

-32.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 SZL 28.16

$1.38 COP 4,407

22.46%

Eggs

$1.07 SZL 17.79

$2.18 COP 6,950

-50.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.70 SZL 112

$4.49 COP 14.3K

49.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.75 SZL 45.79

$5.79 COP 18.5K

-52.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.72 SZL 28.67

$8.97 COP 28.6K

-80.82%

Apples (1kg)

$1.30 SZL 21.58

$2.32 COP 7,405

-43.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.58 SZL 9.72

$1.06 COP 3,397

-45.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 SZL 11.79

$1.52 COP 4,838

-53.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 SZL 7.75

$1.36 COP 4,327

-65.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 SZL 9.57

$1.13 COP 3,599

-49.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 SZL 7.31

$1.17 COP 3,738

-62.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 SZL 6.78

$0.90 COP 2,876

-54.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SZL 9.87

$0.90 COP 2,861

-34.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 SZL 47.45

$2.23 COP 7,128

27.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.18 SZL 53.0

$12.12 COP 38.7K

-73.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SZL 9.10

$1.19 COP 3,793

-53.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 SZL 12.48

$2.48 COP 7,920

-69.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 SZL 9.01

$0.85 COP 2,723

-36.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 SZL 20.71

$0.99 COP 3,160

25.25%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$15.7K SZL 261.5K

$17.6K COP 56.2M

-10.75%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$14.3K SZL 238.3K

$26.8K COP 85.5M

-46.59%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$65.9 SZL 1,097

$83.0 COP 264.9K

-20.61%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.17 SZL 186

$9.70 COP 30.9K

15.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 SZL 459

$23.52 COP 75.0K

17.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.42 SZL 57.0

$3.95 COP 12.6K

-13.42%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 1.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$155 SZL 2,581

$475 COP 1.5M

-67.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.6 SZL 1,641

$374 COP 1.2M

-73.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$338 SZL 5,630

$849 COP 2.7M

-60.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$253 SZL 4,216

$719 COP 2.3M

-64.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$386 SZL 6,423

$624 COP 2.0M

-38.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-25.54%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Manzini: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $155 in Manzini versus $475 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 62% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Manzini vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 215% more than Manzini, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $478 per month in Manzini and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Manzini, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $319 in Manzini and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 80% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Manzini, where all-in costs run around $319, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Manzini it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Manzini costs $319 versus $1,003 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Manzini. 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.