Cost of Living Comparison Between Livingstone and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Livingstone and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $208 per month in Livingstone vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $391 per month in Livingstone vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $573 per month in Livingstone vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Livingstone is about 88% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Livingstone sits 85% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.79 ZMW 149

$8.03 COP 25.1K

-2.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.81 ZMW 609

$48.26 COP 150.8K

-34.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.16 ZMW 175

$9.77 COP 30.5K

-6.24%

Cappuccino

$5.40 ZMW 103

$2.91 COP 9,095

85.57%

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

$1.94 COP 6,074

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ZMW 6.76

$1.52 COP 4,754

-76.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,663

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 17.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,262

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,460

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,314

Eggs

$2.87 COP 8,967

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 COP 31.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 COP 33.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 COP 46.0K

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 COP 12.8K

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,911

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,642

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,917

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,396

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 COP 4,700

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,718

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,619

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$20.89 ZMW 400

$14.44 COP 45.1K

44.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,948

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,836

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,650

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 242.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,014

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.65 ZMW 50.8

$2.09 COP 6,537

26.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 26.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,056

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

$27.7K COP 86.4M

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

$35.5K COP 110.9M

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

$176 COP 550.1K

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

$13.37 COP 41.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.89 COP 93.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 139.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.3K

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.4K

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

$793 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 COP 267.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 182.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 425.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 322.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Livingstone: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Livingstone versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $42.00 vs $303 – making Livingstone the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Livingstone vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $208 in Livingstone, $1,716 in Medellin – roughly 725% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $312 per month in Livingstone and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Livingstone and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $208 in Livingstone and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Livingstone, where all-in costs run around $208, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Livingstone 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 $208 in Livingstone to $1,716 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Livingstone. 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.