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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $728 per month in Mbabane vs $1,028 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,175 per month in Mbabane vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,622 per month in Mbabane vs $2,144 in Medellin, rent included.

Mbabane is about 29% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mbabane and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Mbabane 45% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.07 SZL 49.57

$6.00 COP 20.6K

-48.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.16 SZL 472

$32.84 COP 112.5K

-11.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.32 SZL 37.56

$7.42 COP 25.4K

-68.73%

Cappuccino

$1.88 SZL 30.42

$1.65 COP 5,659

13.94%

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

$0.89 SZL 14.44

$1.07 COP 3,663

-16.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 SZL 9.49

$0.76 COP 2,607

-22.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 SZL 27.44

$1.72 COP 5,908

-1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.69 SZL 27.38

$3.20 COP 11.0K

-47.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 SZL 16.64

$1.05 COP 3,597

-1.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 SZL 11.90

$1.31 COP 4,479

-43.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 SZL 20.02

$1.34 COP 4,591

-7.46%

Eggs

$1.64 SZL 26.58

$2.19 COP 7,521

-25.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.20 SZL 149

$4.41 COP 15.1K

108.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.02 SZL 81.1

$5.69 COP 19.5K

-11.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.07 SZL 82.0

$8.52 COP 29.2K

-40.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 SZL 23.98

$2.34 COP 8,023

-36.75%

Banana (1kg)

$0.77 SZL 12.39

$1.11 COP 3,804

-30.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.95 SZL 15.44

$1.52 COP 5,210

-37.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 SZL 22.74

$1.37 COP 4,680

2.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 SZL 17.15

$1.15 COP 3,950

-7.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 SZL 19.78

$1.18 COP 4,043

3.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 SZL 8.93

$0.84 COP 2,885

-34.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 SZL 12.39

$0.86 COP 2,931

-10.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.59 SZL 41.83

$2.26 COP 7,753

14.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.24 SZL 101

$11.60 COP 39.8K

-46.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 SZL 23.34

$1.20 COP 4,109

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 SZL 23.19

$2.48 COP 8,484

-42.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 SZL 17.75

$0.79 COP 2,721

39.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.95 SZL 468

$40.83 COP 139.9K

-29.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 SZL 54.6

$1.47 COP 5,023

129.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 SZL 42.54

$1.92 COP 6,568

36.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.40 SZL 55.0

$7.77 COP 26.6K

-56.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 SZL 18.27

$1.01 COP 3,464

11.88%

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

$17.1K SZL 275.8K

$17.7K COP 60.5M

-3.42%

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

$21.0K SZL 339.0K

$26.5K COP 90.7M

-20.75%

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

$75.6 SZL 1,223

$81.1 COP 277.9K

-6.76%

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

$35.66 SZL 577

$9.43 COP 32.3K

278.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.16 SZL 455

$23.86 COP 81.8K

18.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.24 SZL 457

$25.99 COP 89.1K

8.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.98 SZL 80.6

$18.71 COP 64.1K

-73.38%

Cinema Ticket

$3.71 SZL 60.1

$4.09 COP 14.0K

-9.29%

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

$104 SZL 1,687

$315 COP 1.1M

-66.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,542 SZL 73.4K

$6,022 COP 20.6M

-24.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.86 SZL 725

$59.7 COP 204.6K

-24.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.99 SZL 372

$31.97 COP 109.6K

-28.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.0 SZL 1,165

$101 COP 346.9K

-28.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.7 SZL 1,338

$105 COP 360.3K

-21.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$260 SZL 4,206

$485 COP 1.7M

-46.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 SZL 2,888

$365 COP 1.3M

-51.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$493 SZL 7,973

$827 COP 2.8M

-40.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$372 SZL 6,016

$730 COP 2.5M

-49.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$503 SZL 8,129

$2,992 COP 10.3M

-83.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$372 SZL 6,013

$1,314 COP 4.5M

-71.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$669 SZL 10.8K

$551 COP 1.9M

21.46%

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $260 in Mbabane versus $485 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 21% 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: $160 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 41% 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 $1,092 per month in Mbabane and $1,542 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 41% less in Mbabane. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $104 per month in Mbabane and $315 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 $728, than in Medellin at $1,028. 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 $728 versus $1,028 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.