Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Pietermaritzburg Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Pietermaritzburg

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 0.3% cheaper than Pietermaritzburg without rent, and 4.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 13.7% cheaper than Pietermaritzburg without rent, and 0.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$8 R 142
-22.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$43.14 R 767
-25.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$5.62 R 100
31.49%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$2.2 R 39.19
-21.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.87 R 15.49
26.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.69 R 12.33
5.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$1.69 R 30.08
-1.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$2.36 R 42.04
35.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.03 R 18.4
5.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$0.86 R 15.24
44.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.52 R 27.01
-12.50%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.25 R 39.95
-1.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$7.19 R 128
-36.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$4.83 R 85.9
18.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$7.1 R 126
20.99%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$1.58 R 28.16
43.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.77 R 31.5
-39.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$2.01 R 35.73
-24.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$1.74 R 30.87
-18.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.53 R 27.17
-27.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.84 R 32.79
-35.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.24 R 22.07
-28.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.98 R 17.37
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$2.85 R 50.6
-17.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$3.31 R 58.9
182.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.45 R 25.76
-18.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.7 R 30.2
46.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$2.67 R 47.54
-68.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$18.3 R 326
128.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$1.63 R 29.01
-13.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$0.52 R 9.27
276.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$3.91 R 69.6
100.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.24 R 22.13
-17.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$23.4K R 416.2K
-24.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$22.9K R 407.7K
14.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$230 R 4,094
-64.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$30.34 R 540
-68.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$56.9 R 1,012
-58.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$37.89 R 674
-32.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$5.12 R 91
-22.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$150 R 2,666
103.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$4,782 R 85K
23.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$61.7 R 1,097
-6.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$38.2 R 679
-17.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$181 R 3,222
-43.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$76.1 R 1,354
38.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$209 R 3,716
134.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$190 R 3,376
99.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$513 R 9,129
61.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$386 R 6,863
88.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$719 R 12.8K
204.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$416 R 7,405
268.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$862 R 15.3K
-36.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
11.5
16.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Pietermaritzburg: October 29, 2025

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