Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lae Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lae

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 20.9% more expensive than Lae without rent, and 18.1% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 3.2% more expensive than Lae without rent, and 56% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Lae
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$10.68 PGK 43.6
-41.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$55.7 PGK 227
-41.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$2.92 PGK 11.94
-41.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.87 PGK 3.55
26.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.59 PGK 2.4
23.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$3.68 PGK 15
-54.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$5.63 PGK 22.99
-43.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lae
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$2.11 PGK 8.61
-48.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.55 PGK 6.33
-20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.42 PGK 5.78
-6.34%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$4.32 PGK 17.63
-48.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$10.09 PGK 41.21
-54.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$9.62 PGK 39.28
-40.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$11.32 PGK 46.21
-24.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$4.71 PGK 19.24
-52.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$2.93 PGK 11.95
-63.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$6.41 PGK 26.17
-76.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$1.64 PGK 6.69
-13.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$3.67 PGK 14.96
-69.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$2.55 PGK 10.4
-53.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$0.75 PGK 3.07
18.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.94 PGK 3.84
-10.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$7.02 PGK 28.68
-66.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$13.11 PGK 53.5
-28.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$2.7 PGK 11.04
-56.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$4.8 PGK 19.58
-48.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lae
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.34 PGK 1.41
144.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.16 PGK 4.72
-12.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lae
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lae
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lae
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lae
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lae
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$7,981 PGK 32.6K
-93.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$736 PGK 3,004
-48.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$1,456 PGK 5,942
-43.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lae
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$164 PGK 669
235.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
0
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Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Lae: October 28, 2025

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