😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Medellin versus $928 in Margate.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $1,430 in Margate.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,144 in Medellin versus $1,931 in Margate.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 11% more expensive than in Margate, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Margate30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00COP 20.6K
$6.96R 114
-13.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84COP 112.9K
$27.51R 452
19.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42COP 25.5K
$3.53R 58.1
110.20%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,675
$1.23R 20.19
34.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07COP 3,673
$0.73R 11.98
46.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76COP 2,614
$0.38R 6.22
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,925
$1.92R 31.54
-10.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20COP 11.0K
$1.38R 22.66
131.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,607
$0.82R 13.43
28.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,492
$0.74R 12.15
77.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34COP 4,604
$1.26R 20.67
6.35%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,543
$2.18R 35.79
0.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.41COP 15.2K
$4.87R 80.0
-9.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69COP 19.6K
$2.40R 39.53
137.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52COP 29.3K
$3.34R 54.9
155.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,046
$1.42R 23.29
64.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,815
$1.36R 22.39
-18.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 5,225
$1.27R 20.95
19.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,694
$1.30R 21.30
5.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 3,962
$1.00R 16.41
15.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18COP 4,055
$1.23R 20.29
-4.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84COP 2,893
$1.02R 16.77
-17.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86COP 2,940
$0.87R 14.38
-1.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26COP 7,776
$1.46R 23.92
54.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.60COP 39.9K
$3.71R 60.9
212.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,121
$0.91R 15.03
31.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,508
$1.36R 22.35
82.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Margate
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,729
$1.07R 17.59
-26.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 140.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,038
$0.70R 11.50
110.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,587
$0.59R 9.62
225.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77COP 26.7K
$4.60R 75.5
68.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COP 3,474
$1.26R 20.77
-19.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 60.7M
$19.9KR 327.0K
-11.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 90.9M
$24.4KR 401.4K
8.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1COP 278.8K
$142R 2,329
-42.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43COP 32.4K
$29.58R 486
-68.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86COP 82.0K
$34.09R 560
-30.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.99COP 89.4K
$31.09R 511
-16.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71COP 64.3K
$3.33R 54.7
461.86%
Cinema Ticket
$4.09COP 14.1K
$3.60R 59.2
13.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315COP 1.1M
$204R 3,356
54.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,022COP 20.7M
$4,687R 77.0K
28.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7COP 205.2K
$41.39R 680
44.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97COP 109.9K
$30.17R 496
5.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 347.9K
$93.5R 1,537
8.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105COP 361.3K
$74.2R 1,220
41.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Margate
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$485COP 1.7M
$366R 6,017
32.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365COP 1.3M
$329R 5,408
10.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827COP 2.8M
$675R 11.1K
22.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.5M
$697R 11.5K
4.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,992COP 10.3M
$899R 14.8K
232.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,314COP 4.5M
$721R 11.9K
82.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$551COP 1.9M
$1,534R 25.2K
-64.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
12.01
11.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026
Last update for Margate: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $485 in Medellin and $366 in Margate. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Margate pays 178% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $28.00 in Margate for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $128 per month, with Margate cheaper across the board.
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 Margate: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Margate?
Margate wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Margate the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Margate?
On paper, salaries run 178% lower in Margate. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Margate?
Rent for a central apartment: $485 in Medellin versus $366 in Margate. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Margate?
Childcare runs $315 in Medellin versus $204 in Margate. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Margate?
Dining out is cheaper in Margate – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Margate?
At $928 in Margate versus $1,028 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Margate but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Margate the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Margate?
Both work as nomad bases, but Margate delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $928 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Margate hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Margate gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.