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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $749 in Mbabane, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,163 in Mbabane, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,577 in Mbabane, rent included.

Medellin costs about 38% more than Mbabane, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Mbabane are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Mbabane 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$3.06 SZL 51.3

93.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$28.91 SZL 485

13.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$2.26 SZL 37.83

218.58%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$1.88 SZL 31.53

-9.57%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.89 SZL 14.98

23.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.55 SZL 9.21

30.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$1.69 SZL 28.40

-1.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$1.71 SZL 28.69

81.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.04 SZL 17.42

1.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.77 SZL 12.97

62.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$1.29 SZL 21.59

7.75%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$1.72 SZL 28.90

31.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$9.03 SZL 151

-52.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$4.86 SZL 81.4

20.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$5.20 SZL 87.3

69.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$1.56 SZL 26.08

43.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$0.71 SZL 11.97

52.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$0.90 SZL 15.11

70.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$1.39 SZL 23.35

-1.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$1.01 SZL 16.95

11.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$1.23 SZL 20.64

-8.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.56 SZL 9.42

51.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.78 SZL 13.15

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$2.58 SZL 43.31

-9.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$6.10 SZL 102

82.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$1.45 SZL 24.27

-17.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$1.37 SZL 22.98

72.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$1.14 SZL 19.12

-30.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$28.83 SZL 483

42.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$3.42 SZL 57.3

-57.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$2.73 SZL 45.77

-30.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$3.40 SZL 56.9

135.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.17 SZL 19.70

-19.66%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$17.0K SZL 284.7K

5.58%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$20.7K SZL 347.7K

29.23%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$76.5 SZL 1,283

9.74%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$35.63 SZL 598

-73.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$28.37 SZL 476

-14.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$28.55 SZL 479

-9.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$5.16 SZL 86.5

268.99%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$3.67 SZL 61.5

6.81%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$107 SZL 1,794

186.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$4,639 SZL 77.8K

27.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$44.41 SZL 745

30.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$22.92 SZL 384

38.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$72.2 SZL 1,210

38.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$81.0 SZL 1,358

32.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$260 SZL 4,356

87.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$179 SZL 2,999

105.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$497 SZL 8,327

66.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$372 SZL 6,242

92.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$484 SZL 8,114

504.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$365 SZL 6,114

285.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$663 SZL 11.1K

-17.74%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mbabane: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $260 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 22% 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: $190 vs $159 – 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 38% 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,124 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 43% less in Mbabane. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Medellin and $107 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 $1,034. 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 $1,034 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.