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 $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,702 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $2,442 in Port Moresby, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $3,181 in Port Moresby, rent included.

Medellin is about 39% cheaper than Port Moresby, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Port Moresby is 27% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$9.40 PGK 41.38

-34.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$48.47 PGK 213

-32.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$5.87 PGK 25.84

25.04%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,600

$2.29 PGK 10.09

-24.89%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.80 PGK 3.53

31.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.78 PGK 3.45

-1.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,488

$2.45 PGK 10.76

-31.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$4.13 PGK 18.15

-23.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.93 PGK 8.51

-45.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$1.60 PGK 7.02

-18.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.49 PGK 6.55

-6.04%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,047

$3.75 PGK 16.49

-42.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$4.53 PGK 19.91

-3.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$6.22 PGK 27.35

-5.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$9.76 PGK 42.96

-11.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,426

$4.07 PGK 17.90

-43.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,604

$2.82 PGK 12.39

-60.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,983

$5.70 PGK 25.08

-73.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$5.41 PGK 23.81

-75.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$3.25 PGK 14.29

-65.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$2.78 PGK 12.21

-59.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$3.08 PGK 13.55

-72.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.27 PGK 5.58

-28.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,630

$6.99 PGK 30.74

-66.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$11.86 PGK 52.2

4.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$2.82 PGK 12.39

-57.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$3.83 PGK 16.84

-34.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,728

$0.50 PGK 2.20

68.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$23.88 PGK 105

69.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$6.10 PGK 26.85

-76.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$2.44 PGK 10.73

-21.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$17.09 PGK 75.2

-55.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.14 PGK 5.00

-13.16%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$22.3K PGK 98.2K

-19.21%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$24.9K PGK 109.4K

7.10%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$108 PGK 475

-25.08%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$47.63 PGK 210

-79.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$377 PGK 1,657

-93.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.7K

$66.5 PGK 293

-62.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$20.71 PGK 91.1

-7.53%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$9.84 PGK 43.29

-59.55%

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

$305 COP 993.5K

$633 PGK 2,786

-51.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$4,013 PGK 17.7K

50.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$31.33 PGK 138

85.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$37.00 PGK 163

-12.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$76.2 PGK 335

32.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$97.2 PGK 428

10.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$2,203 PGK 9,694

-78.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$478 PGK 2,102

-21.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$3,447 PGK 15.2K

-75.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$840 PGK 3,694

-13.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$2,088 PGK 9,188

53.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$3,904 PGK 17.2K

-64.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$439 PGK 1,932

40.49%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Port Moresby: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $2,203 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 40% 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: $193 vs $306 – 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 65%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $2,553 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $1,702 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 $1,031, than in Port Moresby at $1,702. 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.