Medellín vs Zanzibar City — Cost of Living Comparison 2026
Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.
NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data
Zanzibar City edges out Medellín on affordability with a Cost of Living index of 25.3 vs 32.4 (US=100; very affordable vs very affordable). Zanzibar City scores higher on safety (60/100), and Medellín wins on internet at ~130 Mbps. Overall, Medellín takes the Nomad Score crown with 80/100 — best for budget nomad and latam base.
Metric
Medellín
Zanzibar City
Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)
US$580
US$400
Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)
US$360
US$280
Cost of Living (US=100)
32
25
Safety Score
48/100
60/100
Internet Speed
130 Mbps
15 Mbps
Nomad Score
80/100
65/100
Healthcare Score
70/100
45/100
Digital Nomad Visa
✓ Available
Not available
Who is each city for?
Medellín is better for…
Budget nomadLatAm baseSpring climateCommunity
See the Colombia country profileAlso compare
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