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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $320 per month in Manzini vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $471 per month in Manzini vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $623 per month in Manzini vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Manzini is about 69% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Manzini and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Manzini 76% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 SZL 18.38

$1.05 COP 3,662

8.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 SZL 13.39

$1.29 COP 4,515

-35.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 SZL 27.41

$1.32 COP 4,617

28.79%

Eggs

$1.06 SZL 17.13

$2.27 COP 7,927

-53.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.83 SZL 110

$4.35 COP 15.2K

57.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.74 SZL 44.20

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-53.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.70 SZL 27.41

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-80.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 SZL 19.82

$2.25 COP 7,844

-45.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 SZL 8.70

$1.07 COP 3,733

-49.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 SZL 11.53

$1.52 COP 5,322

-53.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.43 SZL 7.02

$1.42 COP 4,964

-69.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.53 SZL 8.61

$1.17 COP 4,084

-54.70%

Onion (1kg)

$0.43 SZL 6.97

$1.17 COP 4,077

-63.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 SZL 6.01

$0.89 COP 3,096

-58.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SZL 9.76

$0.90 COP 3,146

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 SZL 45.96

$2.25 COP 7,837

26.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.20 SZL 51.7

$11.04 COP 38.5K

-71.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 SZL 8.78

$1.14 COP 3,977

-52.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 SZL 11.30

$2.38 COP 8,301

-70.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 SZL 8.83

$0.84 COP 2,916

-34.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 SZL 19.33

$1.01 COP 3,509

18.81%

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

$15.5K SZL 250.9K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

-11.64%

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

$14.8K SZL 239.8K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

-43.97%

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

$66.3 SZL 1,071

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-20.75%

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

$11.42 SZL 185

$9.45 COP 33.0K

20.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.32 SZL 458

$24.11 COP 84.1K

17.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 SZL 55.6

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-16.10%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$152 SZL 2,455

$482 COP 1.7M

-68.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$97.9 SZL 1,582

$379 COP 1.3M

-74.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$342 SZL 5,523

$837 COP 2.9M

-59.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 SZL 4,061

$723 COP 2.5M

-65.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$400 SZL 6,458

$541 COP 1.9M

-26.09%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $152 in Manzini versus $482 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 35% 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 218% 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 $480 per month in Manzini and $1,525 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 $320 in Manzini and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 79% 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 $320, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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 $320 versus $1,017 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.