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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 14.2% cheaper than Pietermaritzburg without rent, and 1.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 18.8% cheaper than Pietermaritzburg without rent, and 1.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COP 22.1K
$7.96 R 130
-22.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COP 119.0K
$43.18 R 704
-23.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COP 26.4K
$5.51 R 89.8
32.85%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COP 5,971
$2.12 R 34.57
-21.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,977
$0.87 R 14.16
26.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,815
$0.69 R 11.29
13.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 6,172
$1.63 R 26.61
4.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.4K
$2.42 R 39.49
30.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COP 4,002
$1.07 R 17.46
3.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,707
$0.80 R 13.07
63.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,967
$1.50 R 24.48
-8.00%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 7,989
$2.25 R 36.69
-1.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.6K
$7.04 R 115
-38.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.9K
$4.69 R 76.4
23.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COP 32.3K
$7.02 R 114
27.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 8,143
$1.66 R 27.14
36.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,013
$1.76 R 28.75
-36.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COP 5,271
$2.00 R 32.67
-27.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,916
$1.67 R 27.16
-17.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,999
$1.48 R 24.06
-25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,188
$1.78 R 28.98
-34.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,202
$1.28 R 20.92
-30.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,116
$0.96 R 15.69
-9.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,473
$2.90 R 47.29
-18.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COP 39.1K
$3.61 R 58.9
200.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,319
$1.45 R 23.62
-17.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,923
$1.78 R 28.94
39.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,835
$2.70 R 44.03
-70.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COP 146.8K
$18.09 R 295
125.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 5,124
$1.64 R 26.71
-13.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,882
$0.53 R 8.59
260.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COP 27.5K
$3.97 R 64.7
92.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,481
$1.24 R 20.29
-21.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 65.2M
$24.0K R 391.2K
-24.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COP 94.7M
$22.6K R 368.0K
16.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 292.8K
$237 R 3,857
-65.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COP 34.7K
$30.12 R 491
-68.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COP 87.7K
$58.2 R 948
-58.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COP 93.7K
$38.31 R 624
-32.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COP 68.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COP 14.0K
$5.08 R 82.8
-23.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COP 1.1M
$149 R 2,427
104.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COP 21.3M
$4,742 R 77.3K
24.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 211.3K
$61.1 R 996
-3.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COP 116.9K
$38.43 R 626
-15.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 366.3K
$181 R 2,947
-43.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 389.4K
$73.5 R 1,197
47.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COP 1.7M
$208 R 3,398
127.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$185 R 3,018
100.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COP 3.1M
$518 R 8,449
63.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$381 R 6,212
87.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COP 10.3M
$756 R 12.3K
279.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COP 5.0M
$445 R 7,247
209.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Pietermaritzburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COP 1.9M
$884 R 14.4K
-38.74%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Pietermaritzburg: April 12, 2026

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

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