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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,028 per month in Medellin vs $320 in Manzini, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $476 in Manzini, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,144 per month in Medellin vs $633 in Manzini, rent included.

Medellin costs about 221% more than Manzini, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Manzini are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Manzini 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.00 COP 20.6K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.84 COP 112.5K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.42 COP 25.4K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,659

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

$1.07 COP 3,663

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 COP 2,607

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,908

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 COP 11.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,597

$1.13 SZL 18.29

-7.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 COP 4,479

$0.91 SZL 14.67

43.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 COP 4,591

$1.73 SZL 27.96

-22.54%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,521

$1.09 SZL 17.68

100.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.41 COP 15.1K

$6.58 SZL 106

-32.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.69 COP 19.5K

$2.77 SZL 44.77

105.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 COP 29.2K

$1.63 SZL 26.35

422.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,023

$1.24 SZL 20.05

88.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,804

$0.54 SZL 8.68

105.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,210

$0.72 SZL 11.56

111.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,680

$0.47 SZL 7.52

191.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 3,950

$0.53 SZL 8.61

116.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,043

$0.43 SZL 6.96

174.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 COP 2,885

$0.41 SZL 6.57

104.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 COP 2,931

$0.64 SZL 10.32

34.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 COP 7,753

$2.87 SZL 46.37

-21.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.60 COP 39.8K

$3.42 SZL 55.3

239.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,109

$0.53 SZL 8.60

126.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,484

$0.70 SZL 11.29

254.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,721

$0.54 SZL 8.80

46.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 139.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,023

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,568

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.77 COP 26.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,464

$1.26 SZL 20.33

-19.84%

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

$17.7K COP 60.5M

$15.7K SZL 253.7K

12.56%

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

$26.5K COP 90.7M

$14.8K SZL 239.5K

78.59%

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

$81.1 COP 277.9K

$66.7 SZL 1,079

21.59%

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

$9.43 COP 32.3K

$11.19 SZL 181

-15.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.86 COP 81.8K

$27.98 SZL 452

-14.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.99 COP 89.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.71 COP 64.1K

Cinema Ticket

$4.09 COP 14.0K

$3.35 SZL 54.2

22.09%

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

$315 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,022 COP 20.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 COP 204.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.97 COP 109.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 346.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 COP 360.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 COP 1.7M

$157 SZL 2,539

209.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 COP 1.3M

$97.2 SZL 1,571

275.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 COP 2.8M

$331 SZL 5,353

149.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.5M

$250 SZL 4,041

192.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,992 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,314 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$551 COP 1.9M

$401 SZL 6,477

37.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

34.30%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026

Last update for Manzini: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Medellin versus $157 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 38% 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 221% more than Manzini, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,542 per month in Medellin and $480 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 $1,028 in Medellin and $320 in Manzini. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 77% 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 $320, than in Medellin at $1,028. 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 $320 versus $1,028 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.