Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Juba

For one person, living is cheaper in Juba: $233 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $16,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Juba, South Sudan
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Juba
🇸🇸 South Sudan
$233
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Juba

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Juba actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $233 in Juba, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Juba $233

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $362 in Juba, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Juba $362

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $492 in Juba, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Juba $492

Medellin costs about 605% more than Juba.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Juba is 83% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Juba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.4K
$19.73 SSP 113.5K
-59.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.0K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 29.9K
$9.24 SSP 53.1K
2.81%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,485
$3.42 SSP 19.7K
-11.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,660
$1.49 SSP 8,547
20.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,443
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 9,990
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Juba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,751
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,480
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,573
-
-
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,093
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.1K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.1K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.0K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.5K
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,883
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,867
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,870
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,174
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,000
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,604
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,911
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.0K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,221
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,103
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Juba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,674
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 243.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 3,989
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,442
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 26.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,237
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.2M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Juba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 533.7K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.6K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.3K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Juba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 137.5K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.7K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Juba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Juba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 266.5K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 182.3K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 424.6K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 307.9K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Juba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Juba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$1,743 SSP 10.0M
-62.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
12
-8.83%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Juba: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Juba
–
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Juba
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Juba
–
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Juba
–
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Juba
–
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Juba
–
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Juba
–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Juba are about 2.7 times higher, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇸🇸 Juba
🕒 Local time
17:07 5:07 PM
00:07 12:07 AM
7 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
372,410 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

SSP, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3,146 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,502 COP (10,000 COP = 2.86 EUR).

South Sudanese Pound exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 5,751 SSP (10,000 SSP = 1.74 USD). 1 EUR = 6,402 SSP (10,000 SSP = 1.56 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Juba 11,840 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Juba

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Juba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is cheaper: Medellin or Juba?
Medellin costs about 605% more than Juba, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $349 in Juba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Juba?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Juba, where all-in costs run around $233, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Juba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Medellin or in Juba?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $233 in Juba to $1,639 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?