🇿🇦 Cape Town vs 🇨🇴 Medellin
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Medellin is 22% cheaper than Cape Town
Quick answer
Comparing Cape Town, South Africa and Medellin, Colombia: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $1,339 in Cape Town versus $1,040 in Medellin. Medellin is roughly 22% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $689/mo (Cape Town) vs $617/mo (Medellin). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $1,339/mo in Cape Town single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $1,040/mo in Medellin single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $689/mo in Cape Town · $617/mo in Medellin.
- Cheaper overall: Medellin ~22% cheaper than Cape Town.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $950/mo | $750/mo | -21% |
| Moderate | $1,339/mo | $1,040/mo | -22% |
| Comfortable | $2,000/mo | $1,550/mo | -22% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $689/mo | $617/mo | -10% |
| Groceries & Food | $200/mo | $130/mo | -35% |
| Dining Out | $100/mo | $65/mo | -35% |
| Transport | $100/mo | $65/mo | -35% |
| Utilities & Internet | $100/mo | $65/mo | -35% |
| Healthcare | $80/mo | $52/mo | -35% |
| Leisure & Personal | $70/mo | $46/mo | -34% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Housing (1-bed, center)
Cape Town
$689
Medellin
$617
Groceries & Food
Cape Town
$200
Medellin
$130
Dining Out
Cape Town
$100
Medellin
$65
Transport
Cape Town
$100
Medellin
$65
Utilities & Internet
Cape Town
$100
Medellin
$65
Healthcare
Cape Town
$80
Medellin
$52
Leisure & Personal
Cape Town
$70
Medellin
$46
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: Stats SA, World Bank / DANE (Colombia), World Bank. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $1 | $1 | +25% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | -6% |
| Eggs (12) | $2 | $2 | -15% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $4 | $3 | -18% |
| Rice (1 kg) | $1 | $1 | -20% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bunny chow / local meal | $4 | $4 | -18% |
| Fast food combo meal | $4 | $5 | +20% |
| Cappuccino | $2 | $2 | -23% |
| Beer (0.5L, restaurant) | $3 | $2 | -24% |
| Wine (glass, restaurant) | $3 | $1 | -76% |
Housing
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (City Bowl) | $689 | $617 | -10% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $587 | $510 | -13% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, center | $1,300 | $1,000 | -23% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $800 | $550 | -31% |
Transport
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly transit (MyCiTi) | $35 | $22 | -37% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | -17% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $80 | $65 | -19% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $30 | $20 | -33% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $30 | $25 | -17% |
| Cinema ticket | $6 | $4 | -35% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇿🇦 Cape Town | 🇨🇴 Medellin | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $8 | $5 | -41% |
Quick Facts
🇿🇦 Cape Town
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,339
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $689/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.20
- Inexpensive meal
- $5.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $35
- Internet speed
- 60 Mbps
- Safety index
- 38/100(concerns)
- Healthcare index
- 41/100
- Country
- South Africa
🇨🇴 Medellin
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,040
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $617/mo
- Cappuccino
- $1.80
- Inexpensive meal
- $4.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $28
- Internet speed
- 85 Mbps
- Safety index
- 52/100(moderately safe)
- Healthcare index
- 80/100
- Country
- Colombia
Explore more: Cape Town city guide | Medellin city guide | South Africa | Colombia
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cape Town or Medellin cheaper to live in?
Medellin is approximately 22% cheaper than Cape Town overall.
How much does it cost to live in Cape Town per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Cape Town is approximately $1,339 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Medellin is approximately $1,040 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
What is the rent difference between Cape Town and Medellin?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $689/month in Cape Town and $617/month in Medellin.