Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and NadiCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nadi
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $1,426 in Nadi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $2,083 in Nadi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $2,740 in Nadi, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 15% more than Nadi, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Medellin and Nadi sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Nadi by 3%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Nadi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$9.30FJD 20.37
-13.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$37.48FJD 82.1
28.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$9.24FJD 20.25
1.95%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$4.43FJD 9.70
-33.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$1.49FJD 3.26
24.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$1.27FJD 2.77
14.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$2.82FJD 6.18
13.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$4.51FJD 9.89
26.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nadi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$1.42FJD 3.12
1.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$1.11FJD 2.44
116.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$1.32FJD 2.89
28.79%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$3.21FJD 7.04
-9.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$12.67FJD 27.76
-20.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$14.12FJD 30.93
-29.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$15.93FJD 34.91
-10.86%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$3.12FJD 6.83
27.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$2.81FJD 6.17
-43.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$3.82FJD 8.37
-43.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$2.09FJD 4.58
-4.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$2.00FJD 4.39
-24.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$1.16FJD 2.54
3.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$0.99FJD 2.16
29.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$9.60FJD 21.02
-60.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$10.35FJD 22.68
35.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$2.88FJD 6.32
-40.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$3.46FJD 7.58
-20.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nadi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$0.69FJD 1.52
81.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$1.12FJD 2.46
16.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$0.44FJD 0.97
393.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$4.88FJD 10.70
69.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$1.36FJD 2.98
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$25.4KFJD 55.6K
8.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$22.4KFJD 49.0K
63.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nadi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$68.0FJD 149
148.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$17.88FJD 39.19
-24.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$23.72FJD 52.0
19.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nadi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$38.96FJD 85.4
17.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$5.32FJD 11.66
25.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nadi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nadi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$30.13FJD 66.0
189.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$46.30FJD 101
28.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$59.3FJD 130
134.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$68.0FJD 149
50.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nadi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$1,129FJD 2,474
-5.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$660FJD 1,446
-1.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$1,723FJD 3,775
11.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$1,019FJD 2,232
2.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$694FJD 1,520
494.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$541FJD 1,185
213.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nadi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$1,115FJD 2,443
-41.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.17
77.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Nadi: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $1,129 in Nadi. 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 70% higher in Nadi, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $37.00 in Nadi. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Medellin vs $316 in Nadi – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Nadi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nadi cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $2,140 in Nadi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nadi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Nadi?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Nadi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $37.00 in Nadi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Nadi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nadi, where all-in costs run around $1,426, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Nadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Nadi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nadi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Nadi?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nadi. 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.