Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Avarua Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Avarua

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $839 in Avarua, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,362 in Avarua, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,885 in Avarua, rent included.

Medellin costs about 21% more than Avarua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Avarua are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Avarua 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.5K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.9K

$59.3 NZ$102

-44.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.5K

$9.23 NZ$15.90

-23.19%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,146

$3.67 NZ$6.33

-53.41%

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

$1.10 COP 3,944

$2.64 NZ$4.54

-58.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,795

$2.43 NZ$4.20

-67.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 6,028

$6.03 NZ$10.38

-72.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$4.93 NZ$8.50

-37.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,925

$1.84 NZ$3.16

-40.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,530

$3.46 NZ$5.96

-63.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,947

$1.83 NZ$3.16

-24.59%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,867

$5.16 NZ$8.89

-57.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.8K

$12.04 NZ$20.75

-63.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.2K

$8.50 NZ$14.65

-33.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.9K

$10.67 NZ$18.38

-16.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,391

$3.09 NZ$5.32

-24.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,796

$1.83 NZ$3.14

-42.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,401

$3.71 NZ$6.39

-59.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,949

$9.64 NZ$16.60

-85.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,132

$3.05 NZ$5.26

-62.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,176

$2.36 NZ$4.06

-50.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,198

$2.40 NZ$4.13

-62.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 3,012

$3.03 NZ$5.23

-72.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,186

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.2K

$15.06 NZ$25.95

-29.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,305

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,869

$4.49 NZ$7.73

-44.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,072

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 148.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,290

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,045

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,426

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

$18.1K COP 65.1M

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

$26.5K COP 95.1M

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

$82.3 COP 295.2K

$123 NZ$212

-33.01%

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

$9.50 COP 34.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 87.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 68.2K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.1K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 210.5K

$68.0 NZ$117

-13.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 116.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 368.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 389.2K

$75.5 NZ$130

43.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$158 NZ$271

202.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$155 NZ$266

144.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$172 NZ$296

388.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$230 NZ$397

214.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$5,020 NZ$8,648

-44.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$734 NZ$1,265

64.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Avarua: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $158 in Avarua. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $59.0 in Avarua. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $380 – making Medellin 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

Medellin vs Avarua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 21% more than Avarua, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,258 in Avarua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Avarua, 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 $1,013 in Medellin and $839 in Avarua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 102% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Avarua, where all-in costs run around $839, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Avarua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Avarua costs $839 versus $1,013 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 Avarua. 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.