🙂A single person spends $809 per month in Stilbaai vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,327 per month in Stilbaai vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,845 per month in Stilbaai vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Stilbaai is about 22% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Stilbaai and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Stilbaai40% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stilbaai
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.43R 89.9
$5.92COP 21.5K
-8.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.59R 738
$32.75COP 119.1K
36.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.41R 73.0
$7.20COP 26.2K
-38.75%
Cappuccino
$1.43R 23.72
$1.70COP 6,186
-15.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59R 9.70
$1.10COP 3,996
-46.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58R 9.58
$0.72COP 2,625
-19.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.75R 45.55
$1.67COP 6,067
64.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66R 27.41
$3.10COP 11.3K
-46.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stilbaai
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79R 13.09
$1.06COP 3,837
-25.47%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51R 8.45
$1.25COP 4,531
-59.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71R 28.22
$1.39COP 5,060
23.02%
Eggs
$2.45R 40.59
$2.26COP 8,229
8.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.36R 72.2
$4.33COP 15.8K
0.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.35R 72.0
$5.84COP 21.2K
-25.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.46R 124
$8.83COP 32.1K
-15.52%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20R 19.80
$2.24COP 8,159
-46.43%
Banana(1kg)
$0.81R 13.33
$1.08COP 3,911
-25.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.13R 18.72
$1.53COP 5,563
-26.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21R 20.01
$1.37COP 4,987
-11.68%
Potato(1kg)
$0.35R 5.83
$1.13COP 4,109
-69.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19R 19.72
$1.12COP 4,067
6.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85R 14.08
$0.85COP 3,080
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55R 9.06
$0.91COP 3,305
-39.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13R 51.8
$2.33COP 8,477
34.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.82R 79.8
$11.13COP 40.5K
-56.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87R 14.46
$1.19COP 4,342
-26.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14R 18.81
$2.37COP 8,617
-51.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Stilbaai
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.61R 26.67
$0.79COP 2,859
103.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.13COP 149.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42R 23.51
$1.44COP 5,223
-1.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28R 4.68
$1.91COP 6,952
-85.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.40R 72.9
$8.02COP 29.2K
-45.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19R 19.63
$0.94COP 3,410
26.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.0KR 280.7K
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
-5.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.6KR 274.2K
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
-38.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stilbaai
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$52.1R 862
$84.0COP 305.4K
-37.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.87R 544
$9.60COP 34.9K
242.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.50R 455
$24.16COP 87.9K
13.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stilbaai
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.71R 508
$25.88COP 94.1K
18.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04COP 69.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92R 81.4
$3.92COP 14.2K
25.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stilbaai
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$210R 3,472
$306COP 1.1M
-31.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,126R 18.6K
$5,919COP 21.5M
-80.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stilbaai
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.12R 465
$57.9COP 210.6K
-51.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.86R 279
$31.82COP 115.7K
-47.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.2R 930
$99.9COP 363.3K
-43.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.2R 930
$107COP 389.7K
-47.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stilbaai
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$357R 5,915
$487COP 1.8M
-26.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$335R 5,542
$368COP 1.3M
-9.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693R 11.5K
$826COP 3.0M
-16.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$679R 11.2K
$716COP 2.6M
-5.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$686R 11.4K
$2,925COP 10.6M
-76.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$635R 10.5K
$1,407COP 5.1M
-54.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stilbaai
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,414R 40.0K
$546COP 2.0M
342.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.77
13.43
-12.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stilbaai: April 25, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $357 in Stilbaai 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 343% higher in Stilbaai, 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 Stilbaai versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $138 in Stilbaai vs $190 in Medellin – so Stilbaai 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
Stilbaai vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Stilbaai?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 28%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,214 per month in Stilbaai 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 Stilbaai, 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 Stilbaai or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Stilbaai 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 Stilbaai and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 38% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Stilbaai or Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Stilbaai, where all-in costs run around $809, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Stilbaai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Stilbaai or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Stilbaai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Stilbaai 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 Stilbaai. 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.