😐A single person spends $2,329 per month in Papeete vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,484 per month in Papeete vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,639 per month in Papeete vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Papeete costs about 125% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Papeete sits 74% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Papeete
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.17CFPF 1,752
$5.92COP 21.4K
190.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.0CFPF 8,270
$32.75COP 118.2K
147.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.15CFPF 1,240
$7.20COP 26.0K
68.75%
Cappuccino
$4.04CFPF 412
$1.70COP 6,140
137.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28CFPF 334
$1.10COP 3,966
198.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70CFPF 275
$0.72COP 2,605
275.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92CFPF 298
$1.67COP 6,022
74.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97CFPF 405
$3.10COP 11.2K
28.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Papeete
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52CFPF 155
$1.06COP 3,809
43.40%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74CFPF 76.0
$1.25COP 4,497
-40.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63CFPF 167
$1.39COP 5,022
17.27%
Eggs
$6.37CFPF 650
$2.26COP 8,168
181.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$26.18CFPF 2,672
$4.33COP 15.6K
504.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.02CFPF 1,737
$5.84COP 21.1K
191.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.64CFPF 2,718
$8.83COP 31.9K
201.70%
Apples(1kg)
$5.24CFPF 535
$2.24COP 8,099
133.93%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23CFPF 228
$1.08COP 3,882
106.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.83CFPF 595
$1.53COP 5,522
281.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$7.81CFPF 797
$1.37COP 4,950
470.07%
Potato(1kg)
$2.90CFPF 296
$1.13COP 4,078
156.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.65CFPF 271
$1.12COP 4,036
136.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.86CFPF 394
$0.85COP 3,057
354.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12CFPF 114
$0.91COP 3,281
23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.25CFPF 1,250
$2.33COP 8,414
425.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.26CFPF 2,476
$11.13COP 40.2K
117.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94CFPF 198
$1.19COP 4,309
63.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10CFPF 316
$2.37COP 8,553
30.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Papeete
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.99CFPF 203
$0.79COP 2,838
151.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.13COP 148.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.43CFPF 962
$1.44COP 5,184
554.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.91COP 6,901
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.02COP 28.9K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55CFPF 158
$0.94COP 3,385
64.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6KCFPF 2.0M
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
9.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6KCFPF 3.0M
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
10.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Papeete
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187CFPF 19.1K
$84.0COP 303.1K
122.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.15CFPF 1,750
$9.60COP 34.7K
78.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.0CFPF 6,331
$24.16COP 87.2K
156.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Papeete
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$77.7CFPF 7,928
$25.88COP 93.4K
200.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.57CFPF 1,486
$3.92COP 14.1K
271.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Papeete
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$490CFPF 50.0K
$306COP 1.1M
59.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,746CFPF 994.4K
$5,919COP 21.4M
64.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Papeete
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.5CFPF 7,804
$57.9COP 209.1K
32.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$83.8CFPF 8,546
$31.82COP 114.9K
163.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.8CFPF 7,836
$99.9COP 360.6K
-23.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.6CFPF 9,554
$107COP 386.8K
-12.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Papeete
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,240CFPF 126.5K
$487COP 1.8M
154.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$967CFPF 98.7K
$368COP 1.3M
162.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888CFPF 192.7K
$826COP 3.0M
128.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,574CFPF 160.7K
$716COP 2.6M
119.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,828CFPF 900.8K
$2,925COP 10.6M
201.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,349CFPF 647.9K
$1,407COP 5.1M
351.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Papeete
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,442CFPF 249.2K
$546COP 2.0M
347.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
13.43
-55.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Papeete: April 28, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,240 in Papeete versus $487 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 348% 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 $81.0 in Papeete versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $508 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
Is Medellin cheaper than Papeete?
Yes – Papeete is pricier by about 125%, 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 $3,494 per month in Papeete and $1,550 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Papeete or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Papeete and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Papeete and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 167% more in Papeete, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Papeete or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Papeete at $2,329. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Papeete it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Papeete or Medellin more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Papeete or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.