Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Johannesburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Johannesburg

šŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Medellin is 13.5% cheaper than Johannesburg without rent, and 12% cheaper with rent.
šŸ™‚ Family of 3: Medellin is 14.4% cheaper than Johannesburg without rent, and 12% cheaper with rent.
Currency
šŸ½ Eating Out
Medellin
Johannesburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COPĀ 22.9K
$11.08 RĀ 181
-45.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COPĀ 125.7K
$45.69 RĀ 747
-27.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COPĀ 27.6K
$4.95 RĀ 80.8
47.27%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COPĀ 6,174
$2.23 RĀ 36.44
-26.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COPĀ 3,974
$1.00 RĀ 16.31
5.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COPĀ 2,918
$0.80 RĀ 13.14
-3.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COPĀ 6,554
$2.64 RĀ 43.10
-34.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COPĀ 12.0K
$2.45 RĀ 40.11
29.80%
šŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Johannesburg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COPĀ 4,043
$1.20 RĀ 19.68
-10.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COPĀ 4,968
$1.05 RĀ 17.10
24.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPĀ 5,230
$1.63 RĀ 26.68
-15.34%
Eggs
$2.25 COPĀ 8,515
$2.56 RĀ 41.83
-12.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COPĀ 17.0K
$8.46 RĀ 138
-47.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COPĀ 21.7K
$4.81 RĀ 78.6
19.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COPĀ 33.6K
$6.68 RĀ 109
32.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COPĀ 8,496
$1.62 RĀ 26.52
38.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPĀ 4,015
$1.46 RĀ 23.80
-27.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COPĀ 5,736
$1.53 RĀ 25.06
-1.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COPĀ 5,154
$1.60 RĀ 26.21
-15.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COPĀ 4,247
$1.43 RĀ 23.37
-21.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COPĀ 4,430
$1.40 RĀ 22.95
-16.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COPĀ 3,418
$1.08 RĀ 17.67
-16.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPĀ 3,171
$0.89 RĀ 14.62
-5.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COPĀ 8,559
$3.14 RĀ 51.4
-28.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COPĀ 37.8K
$6.06 RĀ 99.0
64.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COPĀ 4,482
$1.36 RĀ 22.21
-13.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COPĀ 9,054
$1.65 RĀ 27.02
44.85%
šŸšŒ Getting Around
Medellin
Johannesburg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPĀ 3,255
$1.70 RĀ 27.84
-49.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COPĀ 157.1K
$71.1 RĀ 1,162
-41.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPĀ 5,559
$1.15 RĀ 18.72
27.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COPĀ 7,372
$0.90 RĀ 14.65
116.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COPĀ 29.4K
$4.01 RĀ 65.5
93.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COPĀ 3,665
$1.28 RĀ 20.89
-24.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COPĀ 68.0M
$22.5K RĀ 367.0K
-20.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COPĀ 101.2M
$23.7K RĀ 387.8K
12.59%
šŸ§¾ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Johannesburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COPĀ 307.3K
$118 RĀ 1,926
-31.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COPĀ 35.6K
$40.87 RĀ 668
-77.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COPĀ 89.4K
$43.16 RĀ 705
-45.30%
šŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Johannesburg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COPĀ 96.8K
$34.37 RĀ 562
-25.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COPĀ 73.1K
$13.89 RĀ 227
38.88%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COPĀ 15.5K
$7.29 RĀ 119
-43.76%
šŸ§ø Childcare & Education
Medellin
Johannesburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COPĀ 1.2M
$208 RĀ 3,406
46.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COPĀ 22.3M
$4,878 RĀ 79.7K
20.94%
šŸ‘•šŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Johannesburg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COPĀ 226.6K
$51.0 RĀ 833
17.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COPĀ 121.1K
$34.10 RĀ 557
-6.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPĀ 389.1K
$89.7 RĀ 1,465
14.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPĀ 408.7K
$79.9 RĀ 1,306
35.01%
šŸ  Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Johannesburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COPĀ 1.8M
$415 RĀ 6,780
16.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COPĀ 1.4M
$371 RĀ 6,058
1.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COPĀ 3.1M
$908 RĀ 14.8K
-9.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COPĀ 2.7M
$698 RĀ 11.4K
3.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COPĀ 10.5M
$1,061 RĀ 17.3K
162.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COPĀ 5.0M
$770 RĀ 12.6K
71.44%
šŸ’µ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Johannesburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COPĀ 2.0M
$1,669 RĀ 27.3K
-67.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
11.51
16.68%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input ā€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Johannesburg: February 28, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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