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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,294 per month in Papeete vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,419 per month in Papeete vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,543 per month in Papeete vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Papeete costs about 129% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Papeete sits 72% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.53 CFPF 1,833

$5.91 COP 18.9K

196.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.1 CFPF 8,686

$32.96 COP 105.2K

152.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.32 CFPF 1,288

$7.43 COP 23.7K

65.81%

Cappuccino

$4.06 CFPF 425

$1.65 COP 5,276

146.06%

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

$3.44 CFPF 360

$1.10 COP 3,514

212.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 CFPF 279

$0.78 COP 2,491

242.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.84 CFPF 296

$1.72 COP 5,484

65.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.77 CFPF 394

$3.18 COP 10.1K

18.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 CFPF 164

$1.10 COP 3,521

42.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 CFPF 78.6

$1.26 COP 4,015

-40.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 CFPF 169

$1.38 COP 4,407

17.39%

Eggs

$6.57 CFPF 687

$2.18 COP 6,950

201.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$26.24 CFPF 2,743

$4.49 COP 14.3K

484.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.87 CFPF 1,764

$5.79 COP 18.5K

191.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.23 CFPF 2,743

$8.97 COP 28.6K

192.42%

Apples (1kg)

$5.13 CFPF 536

$2.32 COP 7,405

121.12%

Banana (1kg)

$2.32 CFPF 242

$1.06 COP 3,397

118.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.68 CFPF 594

$1.52 COP 4,838

273.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.96 CFPF 832

$1.36 COP 4,327

485.29%

Potato (1kg)

$3.05 CFPF 318

$1.13 COP 3,599

169.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 CFPF 283

$1.17 COP 3,738

131.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.93 CFPF 411

$0.90 COP 2,876

336.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 CFPF 118

$0.90 COP 2,861

25.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.83 CFPF 1,237

$2.23 COP 7,128

430.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.76 CFPF 2,275

$12.12 COP 38.7K

79.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 CFPF 207

$1.19 COP 3,793

66.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 CFPF 327

$2.48 COP 7,920

26.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 CFPF 204

$0.85 COP 2,723

129.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$9.59 CFPF 1,002

$1.42 COP 4,518

575.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 CFPF 166

$0.99 COP 3,160

60.61%

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

$19.4K CFPF 2.0M

$17.6K COP 56.2M

10.10%

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

$29.6K CFPF 3.1M

$26.8K COP 85.5M

10.45%

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

$186 CFPF 19.4K

$83.0 COP 264.9K

123.72%

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

$17.57 CFPF 1,837

$9.70 COP 30.9K

81.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.2 CFPF 6,608

$23.52 COP 75.0K

168.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.9 CFPF 8,146

$25.26 COP 80.6K

208.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$14.32 CFPF 1,498

$3.95 COP 12.6K

262.53%

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

$491 CFPF 51.3K

$316 COP 1.0M

55.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,673 CFPF 1.0M

$5,975 COP 19.1M

61.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.3 CFPF 7,971

$60.0 COP 191.4K

27.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$82.2 CFPF 8,596

$31.82 COP 101.5K

158.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.0 CFPF 8,049

$102 COP 324.4K

-24.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.0 CFPF 9,822

$107 COP 342.8K

-12.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,233 CFPF 129.0K

$475 COP 1.5M

159.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$974 CFPF 101.8K

$374 COP 1.2M

160.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,910 CFPF 199.7K

$849 COP 2.7M

124.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,551 CFPF 162.2K

$719 COP 2.3M

115.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,458 CFPF 884.2K

$3,265 COP 10.4M

159.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,185 CFPF 646.6K

$1,441 COP 4.6M

329.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,414 CFPF 252.3K

$624 COP 2.0M

286.52%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,233 in Papeete versus $475 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 287% 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 $193 – 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 129%, 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 $3,441 per month in Papeete and $1,504 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 160% 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 $1,003, than in Papeete at $2,294. 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.