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 $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $755 in Walvis Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $686 in Walvis Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $618 in Walvis Bay, rent included.

Medellin costs about 34% more than Walvis Bay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Walvis Bay are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Walvis Bay 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$0.88 NAD 14.44

90.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$1.53 NAD 25.05

-28.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$0.82 NAD 13.44

53.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$1.70 NAD 27.74

-18.82%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$1.64 NAD 26.78

33.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$9.23 NAD 151

-52.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$5.73 NAD 93.6

-1.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$6.75 NAD 110

31.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$1.97 NAD 32.13

18.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$1.81 NAD 29.53

-41.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$1.59 NAD 25.90

-13.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$2.26 NAD 36.86

-49.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$2.76 NAD 45.04

-57.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$1.62 NAD 26.50

-45.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$1.82 NAD 29.64

484.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$0.77 NAD 12.59

154.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$67.3 NAD 1,099

-64.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$38.39 NAD 627

-32.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$60.6 NAD 989

-3.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$466 NAD 7,613

-18.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Walvis Bay: May 31, 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 Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,132 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 $1,013 in Medellin and $755 in Walvis Bay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 15% 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 $755, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.