Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nadi Cost 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
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$9.30 FJD 20.37
-13.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.6K
$37.48 FJD 82.1
28.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$9.24 FJD 20.25
1.95%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,040
$4.43 FJD 9.70
-33.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,735
$1.49 FJD 3.26
24.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,479
$1.27 FJD 2.77
14.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,882
$2.82 FJD 6.18
13.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$4.51 FJD 9.89
26.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nadi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,428
$1.42 FJD 3.12
1.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,389
$1.11 FJD 2.44
116.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,228
$1.32 FJD 2.89
28.79%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,896
$3.21 FJD 7.04
-9.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 30.9K
$12.67 FJD 27.76
-20.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$14.12 FJD 30.93
-29.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$15.93 FJD 34.91
-10.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$3.12 FJD 6.83
27.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,878
$2.81 FJD 6.17
-43.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,624
$3.82 FJD 8.37
-43.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,078
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,169
$2.09 FJD 4.58
-4.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,646
$2.00 FJD 4.39
-24.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,701
$1.16 FJD 2.54
3.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,946
$0.99 FJD 2.16
29.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$9.60 FJD 21.02
-60.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$10.35 FJD 22.68
35.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,256
$2.88 FJD 6.32
-40.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,440
$3.46 FJD 7.58
-20.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nadi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,834
$0.69 FJD 1.52
81.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,016
$1.12 FJD 2.46
16.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,680
$0.44 FJD 0.97
393.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$4.88 FJD 10.70
69.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,172
$1.36 FJD 2.98
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.5M
$25.4K FJD 55.6K
8.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.4M
$22.4K FJD 49.0K
63.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nadi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 519.2K
$68.0 FJD 149
148.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$17.88 FJD 39.19
-24.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$23.72 FJD 52.0
19.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nadi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.7K
$38.96 FJD 85.4
17.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$5.32 FJD 11.66
25.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nadi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nadi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 268.8K
$30.13 FJD 66.0
189.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.7K
$46.30 FJD 101
28.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.5K
$59.3 FJD 130
134.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.0K
$68.0 FJD 149
50.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nadi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$1,129 FJD 2,474
-5.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$660 FJD 1,446
-1.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$1,723 FJD 3,775
11.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$1,019 FJD 2,232
2.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
$694 FJD 1,520
494.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
$541 FJD 1,185
213.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nadi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
$1,115 FJD 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.

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