😐A single person spends $2,416 per month in Southwark vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $4,793 per month in Southwark vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,170 per month in Southwark vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Southwark costs about 134% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Southwark sits 81% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Southwark
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.79£16.21
$6.16COP 20.1K
253.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.6£64.4
$32.60COP 106.1K
165.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.78£8.02
$7.34COP 23.9K
46.87%
Cappuccino
$5.29£3.94
$1.72COP 5,600
207.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82£2.10
$1.05COP 3,420
168.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85£1.38
$0.77COP 2,515
140.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.86£5.10
$1.69COP 5,488
305.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.96£5.18
$3.17COP 10.3K
119.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Southwark
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75£1.30
$1.05COP 3,423
66.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.24£1.67
$1.30COP 4,236
72.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24£1.66
$1.40COP 4,544
60.00%
Eggs
$3.73£2.77
$2.16COP 7,047
72.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.33£6.19
$4.39COP 14.3K
89.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.33£6.19
$5.88COP 19.1K
41.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.40£9.96
$8.64COP 28.1K
55.09%
Apples(1kg)
$3.43£2.55
$2.28COP 7,426
50.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56£1.16
$1.11COP 3,604
40.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.03£2.26
$1.53COP 4,983
98.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.81£2.09
$1.35COP 4,410
108.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75£1.30
$1.13COP 3,674
54.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.58£1.17
$1.13COP 3,692
39.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.24£0.92
$0.85COP 2,753
45.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45£1.07
$0.91COP 2,975
59.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$21.16£15.74
$2.34COP 7,630
804.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.08£8.98
$12.37COP 40.3K
-2.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75£2.05
$1.20COP 3,909
129.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53£1.88
$2.49COP 8,104
1.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Southwark
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.39£2.52
$0.84COP 2,728
303.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$160£119
$40.57COP 132.1K
294.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.32£3.96
$1.42COP 4,623
274.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.08£1.55
$1.92COP 6,235
8.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.74£22.12
$7.66COP 24.9K
288.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95£1.45
$0.99COP 3,223
96.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K£29.0K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
116.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.9K£28.9K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
46.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Southwark
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$332£247
$80.8COP 263.1K
310.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.28£14.34
$9.95COP 32.4K
93.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.92£25.97
$24.18COP 78.7K
44.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Southwark
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.01£33.48
$25.08COP 81.7K
79.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.34£15.13
$3.98COP 13.0K
411.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Southwark
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,528£1,880
$305COP 993.5K
728.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.7K£16.9K
$6,059COP 19.7M
274.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Southwark
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113£84.4
$58.1COP 189.2K
95.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.98£30.48
$32.20COP 104.8K
27.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.5£65.1
$101COP 327.9K
-13.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.6£73.3
$108COP 350.8K
-8.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Southwark
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,382£1,771
$477COP 1.6M
399.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,010£752
$376COP 1.2M
168.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,998£1,486
$845COP 2.7M
136.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,905£2,904
$730COP 2.4M
434.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Southwark
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,164£3,098
$617COP 2.0M
575.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.45
13.43
-59.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Southwark: July 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $2,382 in Southwark versus $477 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 575% higher in Southwark, 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 $87.0 in Southwark versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 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
Southwark vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Southwark?
Yes – Southwark is pricier by about 134%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $3,624 per month in Southwark and $1,546 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 Southwark or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Southwark and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Southwark and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,416 in Southwark and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Southwark or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Southwark at $2,416. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Southwark it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Southwark 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 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, Southwark makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.