Cost of Living Comparison Between Lilongwe and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Lilongwe and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $581 in Lilongwe versus $1,013 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,129 in Lilongwe versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,676 in Lilongwe versus $2,192 in Medellin.

Living in Lilongwe costs roughly 43% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lilongwe 57% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.97 MWK 8,539

$5.99 COP 21.3K

-17.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.48 MWK 55.8K

$32.86 COP 116.9K

-1.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.27 MWK 17.6K

$7.09 COP 25.2K

44.85%

Cappuccino

$3.12 MWK 5,349

$1.71 COP 6,093

82.46%

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

$0.90 MWK 1,540

$1.10 COP 3,910

-18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 MWK 656

$0.78 COP 2,771

-51.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 MWK 2,897

$1.68 COP 5,976

0.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 MWK 6,723

$3.07 COP 10.9K

27.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 MWK 1,599

$1.09 COP 3,892

-14.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 MWK 2,057

$1.26 COP 4,492

-4.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MWK 2,910

$1.38 COP 4,905

22.46%

Eggs

$2.69 MWK 4,627

$2.19 COP 7,799

22.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.01 MWK 27.5K

$4.40 COP 15.7K

263.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 MWK 5,446

$5.63 COP 20.0K

-43.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.00 MWK 6,874

$8.89 COP 31.6K

-55.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 MWK 4,483

$2.34 COP 8,319

11.54%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 MWK 1,667

$1.06 COP 3,764

-8.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 MWK 2,644

$1.50 COP 5,355

2.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 MWK 2,680

$1.38 COP 4,906

13.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 MWK 2,285

$1.15 COP 4,097

15.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 MWK 2,163

$1.16 COP 4,141

8.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,170

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 MWK 1,117

$0.84 COP 2,986

-22.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.62 MWK 2,789

$2.28 COP 8,116

-28.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.37 MWK 24.7K

$10.64 COP 37.9K

35.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 MWK 1,796

$1.20 COP 4,268

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 MWK 3,240

$2.47 COP 8,793

-23.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 MWK 1,651

$0.86 COP 3,045

11.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.26 MWK 7,322

$41.40 COP 147.3K

-89.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,245

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.53 MWK 4,341

$1.96 COP 6,984

29.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 MWK 3,767

$7.74 COP 27.5K

-71.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 MWK 2,830

$0.95 COP 3,397

73.68%

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

$18.1K COP 64.5M

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

$26.5K COP 94.2M

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

$44.67 MWK 76.7K

$82.3 COP 292.7K

-45.69%

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

$11.56 MWK 19.9K

$9.50 COP 33.8K

21.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.5 MWK 107.4K

$24.23 COP 86.2K

158.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.37 MWK 64.2K

$25.89 COP 92.1K

44.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.05 MWK 6,949

$3.93 COP 14.0K

3.05%

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

$350 MWK 601.1K

$309 COP 1.1M

13.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,340 MWK 4.0M

$5,965 COP 21.2M

-60.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 208.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 385.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.2 MWK 117.0K

$379 COP 1.3M

-82.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$272 MWK 467.6K

$838 COP 3.0M

-67.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 MWK 952.0K

$724 COP 2.6M

-23.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$279 MWK 479.5K

$512 COP 1.8M

-45.43%

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 Lilongwe: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 83% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $32.00 in Lilongwe vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $200 vs $188, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.

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

Lilongwe vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lilongwe is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Medellin earns 83% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Lilongwe – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $581 in Lilongwe versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Lilongwe but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Lilongwe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Lilongwe is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Lilongwe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.