πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $917 in Margate.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $1,412 in Margate.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,907 in Margate.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 13% more expensive than Margate, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Margate32% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
$7.05RΒ 118
-16.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
$28.46RΒ 477
15.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
$3.40RΒ 57.0
111.76%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
$1.23RΒ 20.55
38.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
$0.67RΒ 11.27
64.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
$0.37RΒ 6.25
94.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
$2.01RΒ 33.69
-16.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
$1.36RΒ 22.86
127.94%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
$0.81RΒ 13.59
30.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
$0.80RΒ 13.42
56.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
$1.20RΒ 20.21
15.83%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
$2.20RΒ 36.92
2.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
$4.86RΒ 81.6
-10.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
$2.47RΒ 41.49
136.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
$3.50RΒ 58.8
152.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
$1.37RΒ 22.92
63.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
$1.40RΒ 23.55
-22.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
$1.23RΒ 20.62
24.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
$1.29RΒ 21.68
6.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
$0.99RΒ 16.62
14.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
$1.19RΒ 19.95
-5.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
$0.97RΒ 16.33
-12.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
$0.95RΒ 15.97
-4.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
$1.44RΒ 24.23
61.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
$3.60RΒ 60.3
209.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
$0.93RΒ 15.59
27.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
$1.37RΒ 22.97
72.99%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Margate
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
$1.07RΒ 17.89
-26.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
$0.71RΒ 11.94
102.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
$0.58RΒ 9.64
229.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
$4.39RΒ 73.6
82.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
$1.34RΒ 22.40
-29.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
$20.1KRΒ 336.6K
-10.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
$24.5KRΒ 411.3K
9.22%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
$146RΒ 2,452
-42.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
$29.77RΒ 499
-67.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
$33.93RΒ 569
-28.79%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
$31.19RΒ 523
-17.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
$3.44RΒ 57.7
453.49%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
$3.68RΒ 61.8
6.52%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$206RΒ 3,453
48.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
$4,675RΒ 78.4K
26.61%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
$41.44RΒ 695
39.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
$30.51RΒ 512
4.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
$95.6RΒ 1,603
4.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 386.8K
$71.6RΒ 1,201
49.66%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Margate
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$369RΒ 6,182
32.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$335RΒ 5,625
9.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$694RΒ 11.6K
18.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$684RΒ 11.5K
4.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
$534RΒ 8,962
447.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
$555RΒ 9,310
153.41%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Margate
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
$1,517RΒ 25.4K
-64.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
12.01
11.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Margate: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $369 in Margate. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Margate pays 178% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $28.00 in Margate for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $129 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 β living expenses run 13% 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 Margate?
On paper, Margate earns 178% less. 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 vs Margate?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $369 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 Margate?
Childcare runs $306 in Medellin versus $206 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 vs Margate?
Dining out is cheaper in Margate β 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 Margate?
At $917 in Margate versus $1,034 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 β similar infrastructure at $917 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 β expenses run 13% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.