Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Papua New Guinea
For one person, living is cheaper in Papua New Guinea: $1,325 a month against $1,589 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Medellin Living Index77Cost of Living Index in MedellinLearn more -
Papua New Guinea Living Index65Cost of Living Index in Papua New GuineaLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 0.5% more expensive than Papua New Guinea without rent, and 20% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 3.1% more expensive than Papua New Guinea without rent, and 3.6% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01 COP 25.5K
$7.14 PGK 31.29
12.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55 COP 148.3K
$44.69 PGK 196
4.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 COP 30.1K
$5.55 PGK 24.32
69.91%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,277
$2.34 PGK 10.24
24.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 COP 5,585
$0.76 PGK 3.33
130.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 COP 4,218
$0.65 PGK 2.86
103.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 COP 9,969
$2.62 PGK 11.47
19.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 COP 17.7K
$3.86 PGK 16.90
43.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 COP 4,495
$1.92 PGK 8.43
-26.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 COP 7,777
$1.53 PGK 6.73
59.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,191
$1.36 PGK 5.96
19.85%
Eggs
$2.82 COP 8,990
$3.81 PGK 16.69
-25.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 COP 30.9K
$6.27 PGK 27.49
54.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.32 COP 29.7K
$6.00 PGK 26.29
55.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 COP 42.9K
$9.33 PGK 40.88
44.27%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 COP 12.8K
$4.01 PGK 17.56
-0.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 COP 4,719
$3.35 PGK 14.69
-55.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 COP 6,768
$6.17 PGK 27.05
-65.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,178
$5.13 PGK 22.47
-56.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 COP 6,092
$3.65 PGK 16.00
-47.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 COP 5,160
$2.74 PGK 12.03
-40.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,658
$2.00 PGK 8.77
-42.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 COP 4,021
$1.14 PGK 4.97
10.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82 COP 12.2K
$6.37 PGK 27.94
-40.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.11 COP 41.8K
$10.54 PGK 46.21
24.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 5,083
$2.58 PGK 11.29
-37.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,188
$3.66 PGK 16.03
-38.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Papua New Guinea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,731
$0.43 PGK 1.87
172.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.0 COP 239.0K
$25.43 PGK 111
195.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,056
$4.95 PGK 21.70
-74.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,531
$2.23 PGK 9.78
-8.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 COP 26.1K
$14.19 PGK 62.2
-42.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 COP 4,046
$0.95 PGK 4.15
33.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K COP 85.3M
$28.7K PGK 125.6K
-6.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K COP 109.6M
$22.7K PGK 99.6K
51.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 COP 516.9K
$93.1 PGK 408
74.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 COP 41.8K
$27.52 PGK 121
-52.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09 COP 89.5K
$116 PGK 506
-75.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.33 COP 141.2K
$63.5 PGK 278
-30.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 COP 52.0K
$24.15 PGK 106
-32.38%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 COP 19.4K
$8.99 PGK 39.42
-32.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$764 COP 2.4M
$526 PGK 2,307
45.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,904 COP 28.4M
$5,532 PGK 24.2K
60.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 COP 270.8K
$35.26 PGK 155
140.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 COP 183.2K
$30.74 PGK 135
87.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 COP 419.8K
$69.0 PGK 302
91.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 COP 305.1K
$92.3 PGK 404
3.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Papua New Guinea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$1,597 PGK 6,998
-35.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 COP 1.9M
$444 PGK 1,946
36.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 COP 5.7M
$2,846 PGK 12.5K
-36.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$993 COP 3.2M
$1,033 PGK 4,525
-3.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,921 COP 12.5M
$2,005 PGK 8,789
95.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,639 COP 5.2M
$3,785 PGK 16.6K
-56.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$626 COP 2.0M
$418 PGK 1,833
49.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
13.67
-19.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Last update for Papua New Guinea: October 3, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $604 38.3%
Papua New Guinea $444 33.2% 26.6% $161
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $288 18.3%
Papua New Guinea $302 22.6% 4.7% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $203 12.9%
Papua New Guinea $236 17.7% 16.1% $33
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $166 10.6%
Papua New Guinea $102 7.7% 38.6% $64
Eating Out
Medellin $166 10.6%
Papua New Guinea $128 9.6% 22.9% $38
Getting Around
Medellin $91 5.8%
Papua New Guinea $43 3.2% 52.6% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $57 3.6%
Papua New Guinea $81 6.1% 44.2% $25
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $993 31.9%
Papua New Guinea $1K 34.6% 4% $40
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $664 21.3%
Papua New Guinea $702 23.6% 5.7% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $217 7%
Papua New Guinea $264 8.9% 21.8% $47
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $370 11.9%
Papua New Guinea $227 7.6% 38.6% $143
Eating Out
Medellin $560 18%
Papua New Guinea $481 16.1% 14.1% $79
Getting Around
Medellin $185 5.9%
Papua New Guinea $87 2.9% 52.7% $97
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $129 4.2%
Papua New Guinea $187 6.3% 44.7% $58
Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea
Weather
Population
2,486,723
8,935,000
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Medellin Papua New Guinea 15,290 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
- Medellin
- Papua New Guinea
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
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🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
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Medellin
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$1,589
/mo nomad
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Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
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🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,406
/mo nomad
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🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Bogota
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,310
/mo nomad
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