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 $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,163 per month in Mbabane vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,577 per month in Mbabane vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Mbabane is about 28% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mbabane and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Mbabane 44% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.06 SZL 50.6

$5.92 COP 21.5K

-48.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.91 SZL 478

$32.75 COP 119.1K

-11.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.26 SZL 37.33

$7.20 COP 26.2K

-68.61%

Cappuccino

$1.88 SZL 31.12

$1.70 COP 6,186

10.59%

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

$0.89 SZL 14.79

$1.10 COP 3,996

-19.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 SZL 9.08

$0.72 COP 2,625

-23.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 SZL 28.03

$1.67 COP 6,067

1.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 SZL 28.31

$3.10 COP 11.3K

-44.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 SZL 17.19

$1.06 COP 3,837

-1.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 SZL 12.80

$1.25 COP 4,531

-38.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 SZL 21.31

$1.39 COP 5,060

-7.19%

Eggs

$1.72 SZL 28.52

$2.26 COP 8,229

-23.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.03 SZL 149

$4.33 COP 15.8K

108.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.86 SZL 80.4

$5.84 COP 21.2K

-16.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.20 SZL 86.1

$8.83 COP 32.1K

-41.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.56 SZL 25.74

$2.24 COP 8,159

-30.36%

Banana (1kg)

$0.71 SZL 11.81

$1.08 COP 3,911

-34.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 SZL 14.91

$1.53 COP 5,563

-41.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.39 SZL 23.04

$1.37 COP 4,987

1.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 SZL 16.72

$1.13 COP 4,109

-10.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.23 SZL 20.37

$1.12 COP 4,067

9.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 SZL 9.30

$0.85 COP 3,080

-34.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 SZL 12.98

$0.91 COP 3,305

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.58 SZL 42.74

$2.33 COP 8,477

10.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.10 SZL 101

$11.13 COP 40.5K

-45.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 SZL 23.96

$1.19 COP 4,342

21.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 SZL 22.67

$2.37 COP 8,617

-42.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 SZL 18.86

$0.79 COP 2,859

44.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.83 SZL 477

$41.13 COP 149.6K

-29.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 SZL 56.5

$1.44 COP 5,223

137.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.73 SZL 45.17

$1.91 COP 6,952

42.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.40 SZL 56.2

$8.02 COP 29.2K

-57.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 SZL 19.45

$0.94 COP 3,410

24.47%

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

$17.0K SZL 280.9K

$17.9K COP 65.2M

-5.28%

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

$20.7K SZL 343.1K

$26.8K COP 97.4M

-22.62%

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

$76.5 SZL 1,266

$84.0 COP 305.4K

-8.87%

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

$35.63 SZL 590

$9.60 COP 34.9K

271.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.37 SZL 470

$24.16 COP 87.9K

17.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.55 SZL 473

$25.88 COP 94.1K

10.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.16 SZL 85.3

$19.04 COP 69.3K

-72.90%

Cinema Ticket

$3.67 SZL 60.7

$3.92 COP 14.2K

-6.38%

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

$107 SZL 1,770

$306 COP 1.1M

-65.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,639 SZL 76.8K

$5,919 COP 21.5M

-21.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.41 SZL 735

$57.9 COP 210.6K

-23.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.92 SZL 379

$31.82 COP 115.7K

-27.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.2 SZL 1,194

$99.9 COP 363.3K

-27.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.0 SZL 1,340

$107 COP 389.7K

-24.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$260 SZL 4,299

$487 COP 1.8M

-46.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 SZL 2,959

$368 COP 1.3M

-51.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 SZL 8,218

$826 COP 3.0M

-39.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$372 SZL 6,160

$716 COP 2.6M

-48.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$484 SZL 8,007

$2,925 COP 10.6M

-83.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$365 SZL 6,034

$1,407 COP 5.1M

-74.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$663 SZL 11.0K

$546 COP 2.0M

21.57%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $260 in Mbabane versus $487 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 22% 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: $159 vs $190 – 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 38% 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 $1,124 per month in Mbabane and $1,550 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 43% less in Mbabane. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $107 per month in Mbabane and $306 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 $1,034. 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 $1,034 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.