😐A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $378 in Zagazig, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $632 in Zagazig, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $885 in Zagazig, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 354% more than Zagazig, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Zagazig is 72% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Zagazig
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.0K
$3.92E£199
104.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 150.6K
$15.93E£810
202.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.5K
$5.57E£283
75.40%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,085
$0.92E£46.97
216.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,067
$0.29E£14.57
568.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,749
$0.17E£8.61
794.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,653
$1.50E£76.4
106.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 17.9K
$2.41E£123
138.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Zagazig
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,257
$0.72E£36.57
88.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,452
$0.29E£14.65
724.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,308
$0.56E£28.58
203.57%
Eggs
$2.87COP 8,957
$1.20E£60.9
139.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.0K
$3.83E£195
159.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.7K
$4.25E£216
153.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.0K
$8.13E£414
81.18%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$1.34E£68.1
205.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,906
$0.77E£39.13
103.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,635
$0.41E£20.80
419.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,910
$0.23E£11.74
860.87%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,389
$0.42E£21.44
388.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,695
$0.40E£20.57
275.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,714
$0.10E£4.85
1090.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,615
$0.22E£11.18
427.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$2.12E£108
83.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.1K
$8.11E£412
78.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,943
$1.59E£81.1
-0.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,826
$2.15E£110
31.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Zagazig
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,646
$0.12E£5.96
875.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 242.6K
$6.01E£306
1193.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,009
$0.22E£11.29
481.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,530
$0.22E£10.99
850.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 26.9K
$1.54E£78.4
459.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,052
$0.39E£20.07
233.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.3M
$34.5KE£1.8M
-19.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 110.8M
$29.4KE£1.5M
20.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Zagazig
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 549.6K
$14.88E£757
1083.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 41.7K
$5.40E£275
147.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 93.3K
$10.97E£558
172.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Zagazig
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 139.7K
$10.01E£509
347.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.4K
$1.96E£99.7
216.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Zagazig
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$110E£5,619
618.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.2M
$3,392E£172.5K
165.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Zagazig
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 267.2K
$19.96E£1,015
328.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 182.5K
$47.12E£2,397
24.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 425.4K
$115E£5,837
18.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 321.8K
$17.36E£883
493.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Zagazig
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$38.60E£1,963
1660.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.6M
$98.1E£4,991
1091.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$294E£15.0K
477.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Zagazig
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
$163E£8,310
307.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
10
9.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Zagazig: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 307% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $16.00 in Zagazig. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $122 – making Zagazig 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 Zagazig: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zagazig cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 354%, 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 $2,574 per month in Medellin and $567 in Zagazig. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Zagazig?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $16.00 in Zagazig. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Zagazig?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $378 in Zagazig. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Zagazig?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zagazig, where all-in costs run around $378, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Zagazig it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Zagazig more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zagazig – 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 Zagazig. 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.