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 $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $907 in Port Harcourt, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,490 in Port Harcourt, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,073 in Port Harcourt, rent included.

Medellin costs about 14% more than Port Harcourt, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Port Harcourt are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Port Harcourt 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Port Harcourt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$2.74 ₦3,774
116.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$34.86 ₦48.0K
-6.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$8.00 ₦11.0K
-10.00%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$2.00 ₦2,754
-15.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$0.50 ₦688
120.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$0.50 ₦682
44.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
$1.21 ₦1,667
38.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
$1.56 ₦2,144
98.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Port Harcourt
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$1.52 ₦2,091
-17.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$2.82 ₦3,883
-50.71%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$2.20 ₦3,025
2.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$2.03 ₦2,792
10.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$2.93 ₦4,034
-63.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$1.96 ₦2,703
-21.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$1.98 ₦2,725
-30.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$1.17 ₦1,618
-27.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$0.49 ₦672
85.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
$4.90 ₦6,749
127.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Port Harcourt
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$0.11 ₦154
618.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$0.75 ₦1,032
92.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$3.63 ₦4,996
120.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$0.65 ₦890
44.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Port Harcourt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$12.92 ₦17.8K
-25.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Port Harcourt
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$36.42 ₦50.1K
-28.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$6.48 ₦8,918
-39.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Port Harcourt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$58.3 ₦80.3K
425.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$1,097 ₦1.5M
439.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Port Harcourt
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$9.31 ₦12.8K
522.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$10.41 ₦14.3K
205.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$71.4 ₦98.3K
39.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$66.1 ₦91.0K
62.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Port Harcourt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$486 ₦669.5K
0.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$611 ₦841.8K
-39.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$1,949 ₦2.7M
-57.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$1,171 ₦1.6M
-38.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Port Harcourt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$69.8 ₦96.1K
681.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
0
-

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Port Harcourt: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $486 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 682% 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 $35.00 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
Is Port Harcourt cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 14%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,361 in Port Harcourt. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Port Harcourt?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $35.00 in Port Harcourt. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Port Harcourt?
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.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Port Harcourt?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Harcourt, where all-in costs run around $907, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Port Harcourt it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Port Harcourt more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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