Cost of Living Comparison Between Papeete and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Papeete and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,248 per month in Papeete vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,366 per month in Papeete vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,483 per month in Papeete vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Papeete costs about 121% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Papeete sits 67% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.33 CFPF 1,783

$5.95 COP 20.8K

191.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.5 CFPF 8,488

$33.33 COP 116.3K

147.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.35 CFPF 1,270

$7.23 COP 25.2K

70.82%

Cappuccino

$4.08 CFPF 420

$1.63 COP 5,687

150.31%

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

$3.27 CFPF 336

$1.09 COP 3,821

200.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 CFPF 279

$0.73 COP 2,548

272.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 CFPF 306

$1.74 COP 6,065

70.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 CFPF 397

$3.23 COP 11.3K

19.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 CFPF 158

$1.05 COP 3,662

45.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 CFPF 77.2

$1.29 COP 4,515

-41.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 CFPF 174

$1.32 COP 4,617

28.03%

Eggs

$6.52 CFPF 671

$2.27 COP 7,927

187.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.29 CFPF 2,704

$4.35 COP 15.2K

504.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.58 CFPF 1,705

$5.88 COP 20.5K

181.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.83 CFPF 2,759

$8.61 COP 30.0K

211.61%

Apples (1kg)

$5.32 CFPF 548

$2.25 COP 7,844

136.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 CFPF 227

$1.07 COP 3,733

105.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.88 CFPF 605

$1.52 COP 5,322

286.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.56 CFPF 778

$1.42 COP 4,964

432.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.95 CFPF 303

$1.17 COP 4,084

152.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 CFPF 278

$1.17 COP 4,077

130.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.95 CFPF 406

$0.89 COP 3,096

343.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 CFPF 115

$0.90 COP 3,146

24.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.01 CFPF 1,235

$2.25 COP 7,837

433.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.10 CFPF 2,273

$11.04 COP 38.5K

100.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 CFPF 210

$1.14 COP 3,977

78.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 CFPF 318

$2.38 COP 8,301

29.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.92 CFPF 197

$0.84 COP 2,916

128.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.74 CFPF 1,002

$1.41 COP 4,912

590.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 CFPF 159

$1.01 COP 3,509

52.48%

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

$19.3K CFPF 2.0M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

9.89%

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

$28.6K CFPF 2.9M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

7.84%

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

$190 CFPF 19.6K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

127.37%

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

$17.53 CFPF 1,803

$9.45 COP 33.0K

85.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.8 CFPF 6,455

$24.11 COP 84.1K

160.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.1 CFPF 8,027

$25.31 COP 88.3K

208.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$14.69 CFPF 1,511

$4.10 COP 14.3K

258.29%

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

$478 CFPF 49.2K

$312 COP 1.1M

53.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,618 CFPF 989.2K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

60.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.4 CFPF 7,965

$58.0 COP 202.6K

33.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$81.6 CFPF 8,396

$32.56 COP 113.6K

150.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.2 CFPF 7,938

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-22.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.1 CFPF 9,467

$109 COP 378.8K

-15.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 CFPF 127.8K

$482 COP 1.7M

157.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$953 CFPF 98.0K

$379 COP 1.3M

151.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,871 CFPF 192.5K

$837 COP 2.9M

123.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,562 CFPF 160.7K

$723 COP 2.5M

116.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,662 CFPF 890.9K

$2,840 COP 9.9M

205.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,452 CFPF 663.6K

$1,223 COP 4.3M

427.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,417 CFPF 248.5K

$541 COP 1.9M

346.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-55.32%

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

Last update for Papeete: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,243 in Papeete versus $482 in Medellin. 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 347% higher in Papeete, 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 $83.0 in Papeete versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $503 vs $190 – 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

Papeete vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Papeete is pricier by about 121%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,373 per month in Papeete and $1,525 in Medellin. 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 $83.0 in Papeete and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 165% more in Papeete, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Papeete at $2,248. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Papeete 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.

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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Papeete makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.