Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Navua Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Navua

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $68.6 in Navua, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $112 in Navua, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $156 in Navua, rent included.

Medellin costs about 2292% more than Navua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Navua is 95% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 COP 25.0K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.29 COP 149.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 COP 29.3K

$6.35 FJD 13.92

48.35%

Cappuccino

$2.94 COP 9,120

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

$1.86 COP 5,786

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 COP 4,519

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 COP 9,969

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 COP 17.7K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,467

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 COP 7,454

$0.56 FJD 1.22

328.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,274

Eggs

$2.89 COP 8,975

$3.03 FJD 6.65

-4.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.06 COP 31.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 COP 31.0K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.20 COP 44.1K

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 COP 12.4K

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 COP 4,921

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 COP 6,682

$5.08 FJD 11.13

-57.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,141

$1.45 FJD 3.19

58.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 COP 6,223

$0.92 FJD 2.01

117.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,687

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 COP 3,734

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 COP 3,981

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 COP 11.9K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 COP 5,302

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 COP 8,515

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 COP 3,868

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 241.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,052

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 COP 6,739

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.29 COP 25.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,209

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

$27.5K COP 85.3M

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

$36.5K COP 113.4M

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

$169 COP 523.8K

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

$13.57 COP 42.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.32 COP 87.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 141.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.5K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.6K

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

$803 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,190 COP 28.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.4 COP 271.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.4 COP 184.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 COP 431.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 316.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 6.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$655 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Navua: September 6, 2026

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 Navua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 2292%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $103 in Navua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $68.6 in Navua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 525% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Navua, where all-in costs run around $68.6, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Navua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Navua – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Navua. 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.