Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Noumea Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Noumea

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $2,361 in Noumea, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $3,697 in Noumea, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $5,032 in Noumea, rent included.

Medellin is about 57% cheaper than Noumea, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Noumea is 76% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$14.44 CFPF 1,475

-58.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$97.9 CFPF 9,996

-66.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$14.38 CFPF 1,469

-50.70%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$5.78 CFPF 591

-70.42%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$2.39 CFPF 244

-53.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$1.07 CFPF 109

-27.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$11.12 CFPF 1,136

-84.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$7.49 CFPF 765

-59.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.17 CFPF 120

-6.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$3.02 CFPF 309

-58.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.90 CFPF 194

-27.37%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$5.51 CFPF 563

-60.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$18.74 CFPF 1,914

-76.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$22.41 CFPF 2,289

-74.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$26.25 CFPF 2,682

-66.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$4.20 CFPF 429

-44.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$7.18 CFPF 733

-85.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$6.76 CFPF 690

-77.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$7.48 CFPF 764

-81.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$3.71 CFPF 379

-69.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$3.25 CFPF 332

-64.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$2.95 CFPF 302

-69.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.51 CFPF 154

-44.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$20.54 CFPF 2,098

-88.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$17.71 CFPF 1,809

-39.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$5.39 CFPF 551

-77.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$6.24 CFPF 637

-60.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$2.84 CFPF 290

-69.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$63.5 CFPF 6,482

-34.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$5.41 CFPF 553

-72.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$1.00 CFPF 102

96.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$24.54 CFPF 2,507

-68.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.68 CFPF 171

-43.45%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$34.7K CFPF 3.5M

-47.68%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$39.6K CFPF 4.0M

-33.05%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$208 CFPF 21.2K

-60.43%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$39.94 CFPF 4,079

-76.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$56.2 CFPF 5,742

-56.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$60.2 CFPF 6,150

-56.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$7.64 CFPF 780

148.69%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$13.08 CFPF 1,337

-69.95%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$788 CFPF 80.5K

-60.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$111 CFPF 11.4K

-47.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$57.8 CFPF 5,905

-44.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$125 CFPF 12.8K

-18.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$245 CFPF 25.0K

-55.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$785 CFPF 80.2K

-39.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$802 CFPF 82.0K

-52.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$1,629 CFPF 166.4K

-48.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$1,342 CFPF 137.0K

-46.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$4,878 CFPF 498.3K

-42.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$3,524 CFPF 360.0K

-65.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$2,780 CFPF 284.0K

-81.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

2.33

476.39%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Noumea: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $785 in Noumea. 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 443% higher in Noumea, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $98.0 in Noumea. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $570 – making Medellin 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 Noumea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Noumea is pricier by about 133%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $3,541 in Noumea. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $98.0 in Noumea. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $2,361 in Noumea. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Noumea at $2,361. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Noumea it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Noumea makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.