Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Manzini Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Manzini

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $348 in Manzini, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $521 in Manzini, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $694 in Manzini, rent included.

Medellin costs about 385% more than Manzini, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Manzini is 75% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 COP 5,541

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$1.30 SZL 20.87

6.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$0.98 SZL 15.84

150.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

$1.82 SZL 29.27

-17.03%

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$1.15 SZL 18.48

141.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

$7.40 SZL 119

22.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

$3.06 SZL 49.22

248.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$1.86 SZL 30.00

686.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$1.40 SZL 22.57

183.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

$0.59 SZL 9.53

133.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

$0.79 SZL 12.69

191.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$0.48 SZL 7.71

320.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

$0.64 SZL 10.38

226.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$0.48 SZL 7.66

239.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$0.41 SZL 6.67

163.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$0.65 SZL 10.49

92.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$3.17 SZL 51.0

27.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

$3.36 SZL 54.0

300.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$0.61 SZL 9.75

162.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

$0.82 SZL 13.24

265.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

$0.64 SZL 10.31

84.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

$1.37 SZL 22.08

-1.46%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.3K COP 86.8M

$17.1K SZL 275.2K

65.65%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.7K COP 109.4M

$16.3K SZL 262.3K

119.03%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$151 COP 463.8K

$73.3 SZL 1,179

106.61%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.10 COP 40.1K

$12.31 SZL 198

6.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

$30.74 SZL 495

5.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

$3.60 SZL 58.0

78.61%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$835 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

$171 SZL 2,757

455.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

$108 SZL 1,733

520.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

$372 SZL 5,980

443.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

$276 SZL 4,450

315.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

$403 SZL 6,479

55.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

4.30%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Manzini: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $171 in Manzini. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 55% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Manzini: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 385% more than Manzini, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $522 in Manzini. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Manzini, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,687 in Medellin and $348 in Manzini. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 152% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Manzini, where all-in costs run around $348, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Manzini it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Manzini costs $348 versus $1,687 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Manzini. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.