Cost of Living Comparison Between Kitwe and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Kitwe and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $218 per month in Kitwe vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $350 per month in Kitwe vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $482 per month in Kitwe vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Kitwe is about 79% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kitwe and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Kitwe 84% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 ZMW 52.8

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-49.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$1.45 ZMW 25.41

$1.63 COP 5,687

-11.04%

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

$0.60 ZMW 10.56

$1.09 COP 3,821

-44.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ZMW 6.93

$0.73 COP 2,548

-45.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.91 ZMW 15.93

$1.74 COP 6,065

-47.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 ZMW 25.88

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-54.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 ZMW 14.71

$1.05 COP 3,662

-20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 ZMW 20.19

$1.29 COP 4,515

-10.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.72 ZMW 65.1

$1.32 COP 4,617

181.82%

Eggs

$1.91 ZMW 33.38

$2.27 COP 7,927

-15.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.98 ZMW 122

$5.88 COP 20.5K

18.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.54 ZMW 114

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-24.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 ZMW 50.2

$2.25 COP 7,844

27.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 ZMW 20.18

$1.07 COP 3,733

7.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 ZMW 21.01

$1.52 COP 5,322

-21.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 ZMW 20.17

$1.42 COP 4,964

-19.01%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 ZMW 52.6

$1.17 COP 4,084

157.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 ZMW 41.30

$1.17 COP 4,077

101.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ZMW 20.06

$0.89 COP 3,096

29.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ZMW 9.88

$0.90 COP 3,146

-36.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.74 ZMW 30.44

$2.25 COP 7,837

-22.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ZMW 13.10

$1.14 COP 3,977

-34.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ZMW 26.11

$2.38 COP 8,301

-37.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

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 Kitwe: June 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

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

Kitwe vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $218 in Kitwe, $1,017 in Medellin – roughly 366% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $327 per month in Kitwe and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $218 in Kitwe and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 18% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kitwe, where all-in costs run around $218, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Kitwe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $218 in Kitwe to $1,017 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Kitwe. 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.