Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Walvis Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Walvis Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $770 in Walvis Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $692 in Walvis Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $613 in Walvis Bay, rent included.

Medellin costs about 34% more than Walvis Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Walvis Bay are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Walvis Bay 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$0.90 NAD 14.83

87.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.52 NAD 25.14

-30.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$0.81 NAD 13.39

60.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.71 NAD 28.21

-18.13%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$1.64 NAD 27.08

31.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$9.02 NAD 149

-51.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$5.66 NAD 93.5

3.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$6.88 NAD 114

25.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$2.05 NAD 33.87

11.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$1.85 NAD 30.60

-40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$1.54 NAD 25.44

-12.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$2.28 NAD 37.70

-50.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$2.74 NAD 45.29

-58.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.64 NAD 27.12

-48.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$1.80 NAD 29.68

587.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$0.78 NAD 12.83

146.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$66.9 NAD 1,104

-63.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$38.87 NAD 642

-35.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$60.8 NAD 1,003

-4.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$465 NAD 7,677

-19.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Walvis Bay: July 13, 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

Medellin vs Walvis Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 34%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,156 in Walvis Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $770 in Walvis Bay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Walvis Bay, where all-in costs run around $770, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Walvis Bay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Walvis Bay – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Walvis Bay. 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.