😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $903 in Margate.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $1,444 in Margate.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $1,984 in Margate.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 87% more expensive than in Margate, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Margate is 34% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$7.59R 122
3.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$37.72R 608
18.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$5.51R 88.7
68.60%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$1.91R 30.70
51.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$1.12R 17.98
61.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$0.85R 13.74
82.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$2.53R 40.79
28.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$2.26R 36.38
160.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.01R 16.23
36.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$0.94R 15.18
160.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$1.14R 18.29
32.46%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$2.52R 40.51
10.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$5.15R 83.0
75.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$3.54R 57.0
200.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$5.98R 96.3
144.65%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$1.23R 19.79
222.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$1.22R 19.66
13.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$1.14R 18.29
101.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$1.47R 23.71
37.41%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$1.10R 17.72
90.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$1.29R 20.80
26.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$1.16R 18.66
-6.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$1.01R 16.26
23.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$1.71R 27.62
135.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$3.68R 59.2
266.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$1.50R 24.09
6.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$1.97R 31.73
52.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Margate
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$1.56R 25.17
-24.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$0.42R 6.76
283.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$0.77R 12.39
176.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$7.71R 124
10.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.39R 22.39
-2.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$36.8KR 592.8K
-23.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$32.0KR 515.3K
11.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$61.0R 982
148.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$18.86R 304
-30.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$33.74R 544
-4.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$33.19R 535
39.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$4.43R 71.4
45.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$333R 5,368
150.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$7,511R 121.0K
18.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$54.4R 876
64.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$18.76R 302
194.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$74.7R 1,204
82.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$49.88R 803
119.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Margate
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$409R 6,585
132.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$372R 5,990
79.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$768R 12.4K
163.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$749R 12.1K
53.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$882R 14.2K
319.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$643R 10.4K
146.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$1,541R 24.8K
-59.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
11.66
-10.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Margate: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $952 in Medellin and $409 in Margate. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Margate pays 146% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Medellin vs $38.00 in Margate for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $152 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 87% 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 146% 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: $952 in Medellin versus $409 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 $835 in Medellin versus $333 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 $38.00 versus $45.00 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 $903 in Margate versus $1,687 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 $903 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 87% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.