Cost of Living Comparison Between Rustenburg and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Rustenburg and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $979 per month in Rustenburg vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,499 per month in Rustenburg vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,018 per month in Rustenburg vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Rustenburg is about 2% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Rustenburg and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Rustenburg 26% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.06 R 182

$5.91 COP 18.6K

87.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.98 R 740

$32.96 COP 103.8K

36.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.94 R 64.9

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-46.97%

Cappuccino

$1.95 R 32.03

$1.65 COP 5,207

18.18%

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

$0.90 R 14.75

$1.10 COP 3,468

-18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 R 7.45

$0.78 COP 2,458

-42.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.44 R 23.63

$1.72 COP 5,412

-16.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 R 33.39

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-36.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 R 17.53

$1.10 COP 3,474

-2.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 R 14.52

$1.26 COP 3,962

-30.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 R 28.16

$1.38 COP 4,349

23.91%

Eggs

$1.92 R 31.64

$2.18 COP 6,858

-11.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.66 R 93.1

$4.49 COP 14.1K

26.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 R 70.6

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-25.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.68 R 110

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-25.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.61 R 26.54

$2.32 COP 7,308

-30.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 R 21.91

$1.06 COP 3,352

25.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 R 21.29

$1.52 COP 4,774

-15.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 R 25.60

$1.36 COP 4,270

14.71%

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 R 12.98

$1.13 COP 3,552

-30.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 R 12.49

$1.17 COP 3,689

-35.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 R 17.33

$0.90 COP 2,838

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 R 15.65

$0.90 COP 2,823

5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.49 R 41.05

$2.23 COP 7,034

11.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.53 R 74.7

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-62.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 R 18.80

$1.19 COP 3,743

-4.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 R 18.09

$2.48 COP 7,815

-55.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 R 18.82

$0.85 COP 2,687

34.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.51 R 749

$41.62 COP 131.0K

9.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.94 R 15.42

$1.42 COP 4,459

-33.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 R 15.83

$1.95 COP 6,141

-50.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.95 R 65.0

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-49.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 R 19.97

$0.99 COP 3,118

22.22%

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

$22.6K R 371.4K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

28.17%

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

$23.6K R 388.8K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-11.86%

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

$68.9 R 1,133

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-17.06%

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

$12.47 R 205

$9.70 COP 30.5K

28.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$43.62 R 718

$23.52 COP 74.1K

85.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.59 R 388

$25.26 COP 79.5K

-6.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.71 R 94.0

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-70.10%

Cinema Ticket

$4.45 R 73.3

$3.95 COP 12.4K

12.66%

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

$102 R 1,685

$316 COP 994.2K

-67.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,010 R 82.5K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-16.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.1 R 824

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-16.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.16 R 546

$31.82 COP 100.2K

4.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.3 R 1,453

$102 COP 320.1K

-13.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.7 R 1,313

$107 COP 338.3K

-25.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$302 R 4,979

$475 COP 1.5M

-36.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 R 5,526

$374 COP 1.2M

-10.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$665 R 10.9K

$849 COP 2.7M

-21.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$565 R 9,300

$719 COP 2.3M

-21.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,309 R 21.6K

$624 COP 2.0M

109.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.9

13.43

-26.28%

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

Last update for Rustenburg: July 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $302 in Rustenburg 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 110% higher in Rustenburg, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Rustenburg versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $158 in Rustenburg vs $193 in Medellin – so Rustenburg wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Rustenburg vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 2%, 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 $1,468 per month in Rustenburg 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 Rustenburg, 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 $45.00 in Rustenburg and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $979 in Rustenburg and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Rustenburg, where all-in costs run around $979, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Rustenburg it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rustenburg – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Rustenburg. 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.