Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cape Town Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cape Town

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 14.3% cheaper than Cape Town without rent, and 21.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 14.9% cheaper than Cape Town without rent, and 23.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cape Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$11.02 R 196
-43.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$44.54 R 792
-27.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$4.96 R 88.2
48.99%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$1.98 R 35.25
-13.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$1.16 R 20.6
-5.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.87 R 15.46
-16.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$2.82 R 50.1
-41.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$2.47 R 43.97
29.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cape Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.16 R 20.62
-6.03%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.1 R 19.49
12.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.83 R 32.49
-27.32%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.39 R 42.45
-7.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$8.28 R 147
-45.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$5.22 R 92.8
9.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$7.46 R 133
15.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$1.55 R 27.64
45.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.41 R 25.08
-24.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$1.45 R 25.83
4.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$1.52 R 26.99
-6.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.08 R 19.21
2.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.24 R 22.05
-4.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.09 R 19.32
-18.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.98 R 17.46
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$3.04 R 54
-22.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$5.68 R 101
64.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.42 R 25.18
-16.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.68 R 29.94
48.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cape Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.91 R 16.22
-8.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$47.53 R 845
-11.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$1.38 R 24.59
2.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$0.95 R 16.94
106.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$4.54 R 80.8
72.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.23 R 21.88
-17.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$21K R 373K
-16.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$24.5K R 434.9K
7.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cape Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$99.2 R 1,764
-16.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$33.54 R 597
-71.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$40.65 R 723
-42.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cape Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$42.61 R 758
-39.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$8.17 R 145
134.27%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$6.85 R 122
-42.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cape Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$209 R 3,720
45.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$5,202 R 92.5K
13.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cape Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$55.1 R 980
5.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$33.11 R 589
-4.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$111 R 1,974
-7.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$85.5 R 1,520
23.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cape Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$766 R 13.6K
-36.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$522 R 9,280
-27.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$1,434 R 25.5K
-42.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$1,029 R 18.3K
-29.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$2,000 R 35.6K
9.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$1,318 R 23.4K
16.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cape Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$1,641 R 29.2K
-66.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
11.77
14.10%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Cape Town: October 29, 2025

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