Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mbabane Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mbabane

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $749 in Mbabane, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,156 in Mbabane, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,564 in Mbabane, rent included.

Medellin costs about 34% more than Mbabane, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Mbabane are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Mbabane 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$2.96 SZL 48.78

99.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$29.27 SZL 482

12.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$2.37 SZL 38.97

213.50%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.94 SZL 31.94

-14.95%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.90 SZL 14.79

22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.54 SZL 8.96

44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.70 SZL 27.97

1.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$1.69 SZL 27.86

88.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.04 SZL 17.11

5.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.78 SZL 12.79

61.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.24 SZL 20.35

11.29%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.69 SZL 27.91

28.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$8.99 SZL 148

-50.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$4.96 SZL 81.7

16.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$5.19 SZL 85.6

72.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.52 SZL 25.08

52.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$0.75 SZL 12.44

41.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$0.97 SZL 15.91

56.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.35 SZL 22.21

0.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.05 SZL 17.31

7.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.24 SZL 20.37

-5.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.53 SZL 8.67

69.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.72 SZL 11.78

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$2.54 SZL 41.80

-12.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$5.85 SZL 96.3

107.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.50 SZL 24.73

-20.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.42 SZL 23.39

74.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$1.15 SZL 18.93

-26.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$28.86 SZL 475

44.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$3.41 SZL 56.3

-58.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$2.78 SZL 45.84

-29.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$3.34 SZL 54.9

136.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.18 SZL 19.52

-16.10%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$16.5K SZL 271.8K

6.67%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$21.2K SZL 349.6K

26.29%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$75.2 SZL 1,238

10.46%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$35.66 SZL 587

-72.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$28.16 SZL 464

-16.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$27.75 SZL 457

-8.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$5.06 SZL 83.4

277.47%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$3.70 SZL 61.0

6.76%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$106 SZL 1,748

197.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$4,585 SZL 75.5K

30.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$44.34 SZL 730

35.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$23.06 SZL 380

37.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$71.4 SZL 1,177

42.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$81.8 SZL 1,347

31.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$261 SZL 4,307

81.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$180 SZL 2,972

107.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$507 SZL 8,344

67.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$377 SZL 6,212

90.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$482 SZL 7,936

577.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$362 SZL 5,970

297.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$656 SZL 10.8K

-4.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.62

15.58%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mbabane: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $261 in Mbabane. 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 5% higher in Mbabane, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $29.00 in Mbabane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $158 – making Mbabane the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Mbabane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 34% more than Mbabane, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,123 in Mbabane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 44% less in Mbabane. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $106 in Mbabane. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mbabane, where all-in costs run around $749, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Mbabane it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mbabane costs $749 versus $1,003 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mbabane. 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.