Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Port Harcourt Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Port Harcourt

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $911 in Port Harcourt, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,458 in Port Harcourt, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,004 in Port Harcourt, rent included.

Medellin costs about 12% more than Port Harcourt, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Port Harcourt are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Port Harcourt 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$2.84 ₦3,858

109.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$35.50 ₦48.3K

-6.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$7.90 ₦10.7K

-8.48%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.03 ₦2,760

-19.70%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.53 ₦721

105.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.50 ₦684

46.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.20 ₦1,631

45.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$1.55 ₦2,108

108.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.52 ₦2,060

-15.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$2.73 ₦3,718

-51.65%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.26 ₦3,070

0.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$1.94 ₦2,639

15.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$2.96 ₦4,027

-63.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.89 ₦2,568

-19.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.96 ₦2,670

-27.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.17 ₦1,592

-23.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.52 ₦712

73.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$5.05 ₦6,868

118.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.13 ₦172

546.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.78 ₦1,063

80.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$3.64 ₦4,955

112.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.64 ₦865

57.81%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$13.24 ₦18.0K

-28.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$36.43 ₦49.5K

-30.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$6.46 ₦8,786

-36.53%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$59.0 ₦80.2K

428.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$1,083 ₦1.5M

453.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$9.60 ₦13.1K

504.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$10.13 ₦13.8K

221.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$72.4 ₦98.5K

37.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$66.4 ₦90.2K

63.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$491 ₦667.0K

-1.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$613 ₦833.8K

-38.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$1,945 ₦2.6M

-56.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$1,189 ₦1.6M

-39.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$55.7 ₦75.7K

871.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Port Harcourt: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $491 in Port Harcourt. 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 871% higher in Medellin, 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 $36.00 in Port Harcourt. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $101 in Port Harcourt – so Port Harcourt wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Port Harcourt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 12%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,367 in Port Harcourt. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Port Harcourt, 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 $36.00 in Port Harcourt. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 88% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Harcourt, where all-in costs run around $911, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Port Harcourt it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Port Harcourt – 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 Port Harcourt. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.