πA single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $670 in New Cairo, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,017 in New Cairo, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,364 in New Cairo, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 51% more than New Cairo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth Medellin and New Cairo are more affordable than the global median β Medellin24% lower, New Cairo50% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
New Cairo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$3.90EΒ£202
53.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.2K
$20.06EΒ£1,041
63.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$5.02EΒ£261
41.24%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,105
$1.56EΒ£80.9
9.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,918
$0.34EΒ£17.43
223.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,776
$0.13EΒ£6.75
500.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,987
$1.41EΒ£73.2
19.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 10.9K
$2.71EΒ£141
13.28%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
New Cairo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,899
$0.88EΒ£45.62
23.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,500
$0.60EΒ£30.92
110.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,914
$0.68EΒ£35.50
102.94%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,813
$1.52EΒ£78.8
44.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$3.89EΒ£202
13.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$4.35EΒ£226
29.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.7K
$9.01EΒ£468
-1.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,334
$1.51EΒ£78.5
54.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,771
$0.57EΒ£29.44
85.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,365
$0.51EΒ£26.65
194.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,915
$0.39EΒ£20.15
253.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,104
$0.50EΒ£25.73
130.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,148
$0.44EΒ£22.75
163.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,176
$0.22EΒ£11.37
304.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,992
$0.20EΒ£10.26
320.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,131
$1.94EΒ£101
17.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 37.9K
$8.71EΒ£452
22.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,276
$1.30EΒ£67.4
-7.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,809
$1.85EΒ£95.8
33.51%
π Getting Around
Medellin
New Cairo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,051
$0.23EΒ£11.72
273.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,255
$0.42EΒ£21.78
250.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 6,997
$0.31EΒ£16.10
532.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$1.96EΒ£102
294.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,403
$0.30EΒ£15.79
216.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.6M
$35.7KEΒ£1.9M
-49.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.4M
$33.5KEΒ£1.7M
-21.00%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
New Cairo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.2K
$25.29EΒ£1,313
225.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$7.10EΒ£369
33.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.4K
$11.26EΒ£584
115.19%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
New Cairo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.3K
$24.90EΒ£1,292
3.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.7K
$6.73EΒ£349
182.32%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$3.51EΒ£182
11.97%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
New Cairo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$91.8EΒ£4,766
236.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$1,994EΒ£103.5K
199.17%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
New Cairo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.1K
$31.73EΒ£1,647
84.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.3K
$49.38EΒ£2,563
-34.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 365.7K
$107EΒ£5,546
-3.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 386.5K
$50.2EΒ£2,603
116.21%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
New Cairo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$337EΒ£17.5K
41.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$286EΒ£14.8K
32.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$505EΒ£26.2K
66.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$422EΒ£21.9K
71.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 9.9M
$1,211EΒ£62.9K
130.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$676EΒ£35.1K
79.18%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
New Cairo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
$191EΒ£9,915
167.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
16.67
-19.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for New Cairo: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $337 in New Cairo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 168% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $20.00 in New Cairo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $132 β making New Cairo 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 New Cairo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is New Cairo cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Medellin is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,006 in New Cairo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in New Cairo, 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 New Cairo?
Groceries cost about 43% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or New Cairo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in New Cairo, where all-in costs run around $670, than in Medellin at $1,013. In New Cairo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or New Cairo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward New Cairo β 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 New Cairo?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with New Cairo. 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.