Cost of Living Comparison Between Swakopmund and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Swakopmund and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $743 per month in Swakopmund vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,120 per month in Swakopmund vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,497 per month in Swakopmund vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Swakopmund is about 27% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Swakopmund and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Swakopmund 45% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.48 NAD 89.1

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-8.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.89 NAD 551

$32.86 COP 117.4K

3.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.20 NAD 52.1

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-54.87%

Cappuccino

$1.64 NAD 26.64

$1.71 COP 6,115

-4.09%

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

$0.74 NAD 12.05

$1.10 COP 3,924

-32.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 NAD 8.91

$0.78 COP 2,781

-29.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.23 NAD 19.99

$1.68 COP 5,997

-26.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 NAD 26.39

$3.07 COP 11.0K

-47.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 NAD 20.51

$1.09 COP 3,906

15.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 NAD 13.75

$1.26 COP 4,508

-32.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

Eggs

$2.15 NAD 34.92

$2.19 COP 7,827

-1.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.08 NAD 115

$4.40 COP 15.7K

60.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 NAD 23.23

$1.06 COP 3,777

34.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

Tomato (1kg)

$1.92 NAD 31.28

$1.38 COP 4,924

39.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 NAD 36.50

$0.89 COP 3,182

152.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 NAD 49.05

$2.28 COP 8,145

32.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.81 NAD 111

$10.64 COP 38.0K

-36.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 NAD 9.26

$1.20 COP 4,284

-52.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 NAD 11.23

$1.47 COP 5,264

-53.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 NAD 20.17

$0.95 COP 3,409

30.53%

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

$13.7K NAD 223.4K

$18.1K COP 64.7M

-24.18%

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

$16.9K NAD 273.9K

$26.5K COP 94.6M

-36.36%

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

$50.4 NAD 818

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-38.78%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 NAD 1,077

$24.23 COP 86.5K

173.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.95 NAD 552

$25.89 COP 92.4K

31.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.26 NAD 183

$19.00 COP 67.9K

-40.74%

Cinema Ticket

$6.02 NAD 97.8

$3.93 COP 14.0K

53.18%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.6 NAD 1,098

$108 COP 387.2K

-37.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$464 NAD 7,546

$476 COP 1.7M

-2.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$355 NAD 5,776

$379 COP 1.4M

-6.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$981 NAD 15.9K

$838 COP 3.0M

17.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$662 NAD 10.8K

$724 COP 2.6M

-8.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$620 NAD 10.1K

$2,791 COP 10.0M

-77.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$372 NAD 6,053

$1,211 COP 4.3M

-69.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Swakopmund: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $464 in Swakopmund versus $476 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Swakopmund versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $95.0 in Swakopmund vs $188 in Medellin – so Swakopmund 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

Swakopmund vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,114 per month in Swakopmund and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Swakopmund, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 99% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Swakopmund and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Swakopmund, where all-in costs run around $743, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Swakopmund it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Swakopmund – 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 Swakopmund. 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.