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

šŸ˜ Solo nomad: Medellin is 2.7% more expensive than Pietermaritzburg without rent, and 3.1% cheaper with rent.
šŸ™‚ Family of 3: Medellin is 7.7% cheaper than Pietermaritzburg without rent, and 0.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
šŸ½ Eating Out
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COPĀ 22.7K
$8.26 RĀ 136
-27.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COPĀ 124.8K
$42.79 RĀ 705
-22.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COPĀ 27.4K
$5.70 RĀ 94.0
27.89%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COPĀ 6,133
$2.13 RĀ 35.08
-23.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COPĀ 3,947
$0.92 RĀ 15.23
14.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COPĀ 2,899
$0.74 RĀ 12.14
4.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COPĀ 6,510
$1.71 RĀ 28.21
1.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COPĀ 12.0K
$2.40 RĀ 39.55
32.50%
šŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COPĀ 4,015
$1.04 RĀ 17.09
2.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COPĀ 4,935
$0.83 RĀ 13.62
57.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPĀ 5,195
$1.51 RĀ 24.92
-8.61%
Eggs
$2.25 COPĀ 8,457
$2.28 RĀ 37.53
-1.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COPĀ 16.9K
$7.15 RĀ 118
-37.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COPĀ 21.6K
$4.68 RĀ 77.1
22.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COPĀ 33.3K
$6.87 RĀ 113
28.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COPĀ 8,438
$1.59 RĀ 26.16
40.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPĀ 3,988
$1.69 RĀ 27.86
-37.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COPĀ 5,697
$1.96 RĀ 32.27
-22.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COPĀ 5,119
$1.68 RĀ 27.68
-19.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COPĀ 4,218
$1.47 RĀ 24.27
-23.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COPĀ 4,400
$1.84 RĀ 30.30
-36.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COPĀ 3,395
$1.28 RĀ 21.15
-29.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPĀ 3,150
$0.94 RĀ 15.48
-10.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COPĀ 8,501
$2.84 RĀ 46.80
-20.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COPĀ 37.5K
$3.57 RĀ 58.9
179.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COPĀ 4,451
$1.40 RĀ 23.02
-15.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COPĀ 8,993
$1.78 RĀ 29.30
34.27%
šŸšŒ Getting Around
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPĀ 3,233
$2.77 RĀ 45.59
-68.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COPĀ 156.0K
$17.97 RĀ 296
130.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPĀ 5,521
$1.70 RĀ 28.06
-13.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COPĀ 7,323
$0.56 RĀ 9.22
248.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COPĀ 29.2K
$4.08 RĀ 67.2
90.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COPĀ 3,640
$1.21 RĀ 19.98
-19.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COPĀ 67.5M
$24.1K RĀ 397.4K
-25.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COPĀ 100.6M
$22.6K RĀ 373.0K
18.06%
šŸ§¾ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COPĀ 305.2K
$236 RĀ 3,897
-65.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COPĀ 35.4K
$30.29 RĀ 499
-68.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COPĀ 88.8K
$58.3 RĀ 960
-59.47%
šŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COPĀ 96.1K
$38.72 RĀ 638
-34.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COPĀ 72.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COPĀ 15.4K
$4.92 RĀ 81.1
-16.67%
šŸ§ø Childcare & Education
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COPĀ 1.2M
$152 RĀ 2,505
101.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COPĀ 22.2M
$4,899 RĀ 80.7K
20.42%
šŸ‘•šŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COPĀ 225.1K
$61.1 RĀ 1,007
-2.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COPĀ 120.3K
$38.83 RĀ 640
-17.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPĀ 386.5K
$177 RĀ 2,923
-42.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPĀ 405.9K
$75.0 RĀ 1,237
43.75%
šŸ  Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COPĀ 1.8M
$209 RĀ 3,448
130.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COPĀ 1.4M
$187 RĀ 3,078
102.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COPĀ 3.1M
$508 RĀ 8,370
61.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COPĀ 2.7M
$378 RĀ 6,238
90.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COPĀ 10.5M
$785 RĀ 12.9K
254.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COPĀ 5.0M
$454 RĀ 7,488
190.54%
šŸ’µ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COPĀ 2.0M
$923 RĀ 15.2K
-41.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
11.5
16.78%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input ā€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Pietermaritzburg: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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