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: $582 in Lilongwe versus $1,031 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,135 in Lilongwe versus $1,599 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,688 in Lilongwe versus $2,167 in Medellin.

Living in Lilongwe costs roughly 44% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lilongwe 56% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.03 MWK 8,636

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-18.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.03 MWK 55.0K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-1.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.27 MWK 17.6K

$7.34 COP 23.9K

39.92%

Cappuccino

$3.11 MWK 5,340

$1.72 COP 5,599

80.81%

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

$0.98 MWK 1,690

$1.05 COP 3,420

-6.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 MWK 656

$0.77 COP 2,515

-50.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.78 MWK 3,058

$1.69 COP 5,487

5.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 MWK 6,952

$3.17 COP 10.3K

27.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 MWK 1,646

$1.05 COP 3,423

-8.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 MWK 2,150

$1.30 COP 4,236

-3.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 MWK 2,876

$1.40 COP 4,544

19.29%

Eggs

$2.70 MWK 4,631

$2.16 COP 7,046

25.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.86 MWK 27.2K

$4.39 COP 14.3K

261.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 MWK 5,596

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-44.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.94 MWK 6,772

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-54.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 MWK 4,512

$2.28 COP 7,425

15.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 MWK 1,753

$1.11 COP 3,603

-8.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 MWK 2,624

$1.53 COP 4,982

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 MWK 2,605

$1.35 COP 4,410

12.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 MWK 2,412

$1.13 COP 3,674

23.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 MWK 2,168

$1.13 COP 3,692

11.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 MWK 1,038

$0.91 COP 2,975

-34.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.56 MWK 2,686

$2.34 COP 7,629

-33.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.62 MWK 25.1K

$12.37 COP 40.3K

18.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.09 MWK 1,873

$1.20 COP 3,909

-9.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 MWK 3,244

$2.49 COP 8,104

-24.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 MWK 1,643

$0.84 COP 2,727

14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.43 MWK 7,603

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-89.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.58 MWK 4,423

$1.92 COP 6,235

34.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 MWK 3,687

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-71.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.63 MWK 2,794

$0.99 COP 3,223

64.65%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$44.81 MWK 76.9K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-44.55%

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

$11.78 MWK 20.2K

$9.95 COP 32.4K

18.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.3 MWK 105.2K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

153.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.14 MWK 65.5K

$25.08 COP 81.6K

52.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.87 MWK 6,643

$3.98 COP 13.0K

-2.76%

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

$354 MWK 608.6K

$305 COP 993.4K

16.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,365 MWK 4.1M

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-60.96%

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

$108 COP 350.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.9 MWK 114.8K

$376 COP 1.2M

-82.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 MWK 463.8K

$845 COP 2.7M

-68.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$548 MWK 941.5K

$730 COP 2.4M

-24.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$271 MWK 464.9K

$617 COP 2.0M

-56.10%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 128% 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 $201 vs $193, 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 77% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 128% lower in Medellin. 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 4% 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 $582 in Lilongwe versus $1,031 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 77% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.