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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $735 per month in Swakopmund vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,118 per month in Swakopmund vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,500 per month in Swakopmund vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Swakopmund is about 29% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Swakopmund and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Swakopmund 45% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.55 NAD 91.4

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-9.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.80 NAD 557

$32.60 COP 106.1K

3.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.24 NAD 53.4

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-55.86%

Cappuccino

$1.68 NAD 27.72

$1.72 COP 5,600

-2.33%

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

$0.69 NAD 11.39

$1.05 COP 3,420

-34.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 NAD 8.37

$0.77 COP 2,515

-33.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.28 NAD 21.04

$1.69 COP 5,488

-24.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 NAD 28.09

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-46.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 NAD 19.81

$1.05 COP 3,423

14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 NAD 14.40

$1.30 COP 4,236

-33.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

Eggs

$2.06 NAD 34.03

$2.16 COP 7,047

-4.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.45 NAD 123

$4.39 COP 14.3K

69.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,426

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 NAD 24.35

$1.11 COP 3,604

33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,983

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 NAD 31.41

$1.35 COP 4,410

41.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.26 NAD 37.33

$0.85 COP 2,753

165.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 NAD 51.9

$2.34 COP 7,630

34.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.67 NAD 110

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-46.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 NAD 9.52

$1.20 COP 3,909

-51.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,728

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 NAD 11.64

$1.42 COP 4,623

-50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 NAD 21.34

$0.99 COP 3,223

31.31%

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

$13.7K NAD 226.1K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

-23.90%

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

$17.0K NAD 280.2K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-36.16%

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

$51.0 NAD 841

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-36.88%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.1 NAD 1,089

$24.18 COP 78.7K

173.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.03 NAD 544

$25.08 COP 81.7K

31.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.34 NAD 187

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-40.78%

Cinema Ticket

$6.04 NAD 99.6

$3.98 COP 13.0K

51.76%

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

$305 COP 993.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.5 NAD 1,080

$108 COP 350.8K

-39.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$470 NAD 7,745

$477 COP 1.6M

-1.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 NAD 5,781

$376 COP 1.2M

-6.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$963 NAD 15.9K

$845 COP 2.7M

14.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 NAD 11.1K

$730 COP 2.4M

-7.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$619 NAD 10.2K

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-80.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$364 NAD 5,991

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-73.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $470 in Swakopmund 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.

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 $193 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 40%, 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 $1,103 per month in Swakopmund and $1,546 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 103% 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 $735, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.