Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbabane and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbabane and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $749 per month in Mbabane vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,156 per month in Mbabane vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,564 per month in Mbabane vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Mbabane is about 25% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mbabane and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Mbabane 44% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.96 SZL 48.78

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-49.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.27 SZL 482

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-11.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.37 SZL 38.97

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-68.10%

Cappuccino

$1.94 SZL 31.94

$1.65 COP 5,207

17.58%

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

$0.90 SZL 14.79

$1.10 COP 3,468

-18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 SZL 8.96

$0.78 COP 2,458

-30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 SZL 27.97

$1.72 COP 5,412

-1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 SZL 27.86

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-46.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 SZL 17.11

$1.10 COP 3,474

-5.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 SZL 12.79

$1.26 COP 3,962

-38.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 SZL 20.35

$1.38 COP 4,349

-10.14%

Eggs

$1.69 SZL 27.91

$2.18 COP 6,858

-22.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.99 SZL 148

$4.49 COP 14.1K

100.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 SZL 81.7

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-14.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.19 SZL 85.6

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-42.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.52 SZL 25.08

$2.32 COP 7,308

-34.48%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 SZL 12.44

$1.06 COP 3,352

-29.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.97 SZL 15.91

$1.52 COP 4,774

-36.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 SZL 22.21

$1.36 COP 4,270

-0.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 SZL 17.31

$1.13 COP 3,552

-7.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.24 SZL 20.37

$1.17 COP 3,689

5.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 SZL 8.67

$0.90 COP 2,838

-41.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 SZL 11.78

$0.90 COP 2,823

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 SZL 41.80

$2.23 COP 7,034

13.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.85 SZL 96.3

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-51.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 SZL 24.73

$1.19 COP 3,743

26.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 SZL 23.39

$2.48 COP 7,815

-42.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 SZL 18.93

$0.85 COP 2,687

35.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.86 SZL 475

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-30.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 SZL 56.3

$1.42 COP 4,459

140.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.78 SZL 45.84

$1.95 COP 6,141

42.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 SZL 54.9

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-57.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 SZL 19.52

$0.99 COP 3,118

19.19%

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

$16.5K SZL 271.8K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

-6.26%

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

$21.2K SZL 349.6K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-20.81%

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

$75.2 SZL 1,238

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-9.47%

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

$35.66 SZL 587

$9.70 COP 30.5K

267.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.16 SZL 464

$23.52 COP 74.1K

19.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.75 SZL 457

$25.26 COP 79.5K

9.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.06 SZL 83.4

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-73.51%

Cinema Ticket

$3.70 SZL 61.0

$3.95 COP 12.4K

-6.33%

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

$106 SZL 1,748

$316 COP 994.2K

-66.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,585 SZL 75.5K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-23.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.34 SZL 730

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-26.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.06 SZL 380

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-27.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.4 SZL 1,177

$102 COP 320.1K

-29.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 SZL 1,347

$107 COP 338.3K

-23.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$261 SZL 4,307

$475 COP 1.5M

-44.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 SZL 2,972

$374 COP 1.2M

-51.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 SZL 8,344

$849 COP 2.7M

-40.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 SZL 6,212

$719 COP 2.3M

-47.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$482 SZL 7,936

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-85.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$362 SZL 5,970

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-74.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$656 SZL 10.8K

$624 COP 2.0M

5.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.62

13.43

-13.48%

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

Last update for Mbabane: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $261 in Mbabane 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 5% higher in Mbabane, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Mbabane versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $158 vs $193 – making Mbabane the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Mbabane vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 34% more than Mbabane, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,123 per month in Mbabane 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 Mbabane, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 44% less in Mbabane. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $106 per month in Mbabane and $316 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mbabane, where all-in costs run around $749, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Mbabane it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mbabane costs $749 versus $1,003 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mbabane. 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.