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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,689 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $2,472 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $3,255 in Port Moresby, rent included.

Medellin is about 40% cheaper than Port Moresby, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Port Moresby is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$9.84 PGK 42.93

-39.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$47.81 PGK 209

-31.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$5.94 PGK 25.92

19.36%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$2.29 PGK 10.01

-25.33%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.75 PGK 3.29

46.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.83 PGK 3.63

-6.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$2.37 PGK 10.35

-29.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$4.15 PGK 18.10

-26.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$2.00 PGK 8.72

-45.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$1.56 PGK 6.80

-19.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.49 PGK 6.48

-7.38%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$3.89 PGK 16.95

-43.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$4.56 PGK 19.88

-3.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$6.41 PGK 27.97

-12.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$9.34 PGK 40.72

-4.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$3.98 PGK 17.34

-41.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$2.89 PGK 12.62

-63.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$5.58 PGK 24.34

-73.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$5.66 PGK 24.67

-75.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$3.40 PGK 14.81

-66.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$2.68 PGK 11.70

-56.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$2.96 PGK 12.89

-69.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.32 PGK 5.74

-36.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$6.67 PGK 29.09

-65.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$11.88 PGK 51.8

-10.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$2.88 PGK 12.58

-58.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$3.82 PGK 16.65

-35.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.47 PGK 2.04

82.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$23.77 PGK 104

74.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$5.85 PGK 25.52

-74.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$2.40 PGK 10.49

-18.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$16.49 PGK 71.9

-53.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.14 PGK 4.99

-16.67%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$22.9K PGK 99.9K

-20.87%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$24.6K PGK 107.3K

7.67%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$105 PGK 458

-21.61%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$46.75 PGK 204

-79.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$382 PGK 1,667

-93.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$67.2 PGK 293

-61.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$20.62 PGK 89.9

-7.86%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$9.73 PGK 42.44

-59.61%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$639 PGK 2,787

-51.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$4,095 PGK 17.9K

45.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$31.07 PGK 136

88.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$36.74 PGK 160

-11.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$77.1 PGK 336

33.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$98.6 PGK 430

9.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$2,151 PGK 9,380

-77.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$481 PGK 2,096

-21.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$3,423 PGK 14.9K

-75.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$826 PGK 3,603

-12.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$2,127 PGK 9,275

31.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$3,892 PGK 17.0K

-68.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$446 PGK 1,945

14.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

13.33

0.75%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Port Moresby: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $2,151 in Port Moresby. 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 15% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $48.00 in Port Moresby. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $308 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Moresby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Port Moresby is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $2,533 in Port Moresby. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, 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 $48.00 in Port Moresby. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $1,689 in Port Moresby. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Port Moresby at $1,689. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Moresby it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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