😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $576 in Entebbe.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $900 in Entebbe.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,224 in Entebbe.
😐Living in Medellin is roughly 79% more expensive than Entebbe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Entebbe57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Entebbe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$2.85UGX 10.6K
107.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$26.27UGX 97.4K
24.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$8.37UGX 31.0K
-13.98%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$2.73UGX 10.1K
-37.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$0.51UGX 1,887
115.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.29UGX 1,063
148.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$1.43UGX 5,299
16.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$2.73UGX 10.1K
13.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Entebbe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$0.70UGX 2,590
51.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$1.26UGX 4,657
-0.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$1.34UGX 4,965
3.73%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$1.78UGX 6,618
26.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$4.41UGX 16.4K
-1.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$4.95UGX 18.4K
17.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$4.20UGX 15.6K
110.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$2.73UGX 10.1K
-17.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$1.48UGX 5,473
-27.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$1.67UGX 6,180
-8.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$1.54UGX 5,715
-11.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$1.56UGX 5,798
-27.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$1.86UGX 6,885
-39.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$1.01UGX 3,751
-15.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.58UGX 2,156
56.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$2.97UGX 11.0K
-21.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$9.12UGX 33.8K
22.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$1.20UGX 4,440
-0.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$2.12UGX 7,846
11.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Entebbe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.54UGX 2,004
46.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$0.59UGX 2,178
144.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$0.26UGX 952
634.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$4.15UGX 15.4K
93.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$1.37UGX 5,094
-31.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$9,207UGX 34.1M
94.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$8,718UGX 32.3M
207.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Entebbe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$41.77UGX 154.9K
101.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$14.11UGX 52.3K
-31.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$44.06UGX 163.4K
-45.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Entebbe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$6.35UGX 23.6K
-38.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Entebbe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$164UGX 607.6K
86.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$4,363UGX 16.2M
35.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Entebbe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$17.26UGX 64.0K
235.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$14.24UGX 52.8K
123.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$38.41UGX 142.4K
160.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$46.74UGX 173.3K
129.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Entebbe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$255UGX 946.4K
90.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$140UGX 520.3K
162.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$414UGX 1.5M
99.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$277UGX 1.0M
158.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Entebbe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$133UGX 493.2K
310.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
20.8
-35.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Entebbe: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $255 in Entebbe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 310% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $26.00 in Entebbe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $167 per month, with Entebbe cheaper across the board.
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 Entebbe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and Entebbe?
Medellin and Entebbe differ by about 79% in total monthly costs ($1,034 vs $576 including rent). Entebbe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Entebbe?
Medellin pays 310% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and Entebbe?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $255 in Entebbe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Entebbe?
All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Medellin versus $576 in Entebbe – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $576 in Entebbe versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Entebbe but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Entebbe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Entebbe?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Entebbe?
Expats usually find Entebbe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.