Cost of Living Comparison Between Lusaka and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Lusaka and Medellin

😐 Solo nomad: Lusaka is 13.4% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 15.3% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Lusaka is 5.6% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 2.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.31 ZMW 180
$6.23 COP 26K
17.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.24 ZMW 621
$32.34 COP 134.8K
-21.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.65 ZMW 89.8
$7.39 COP 30.8K
-50.61%
Cappuccino
$1.94 ZMW 47.7
$1.72 COP 7,155
12.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ZMW 17.91
$1.1 COP 4,575
-33.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ZMW 8.36
$0.73 COP 3,060
-53.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.88 ZMW 21.69
$1.66 COP 6,916
-46.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 ZMW 45.19
$3.2 COP 13.3K
-42.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 ZMW 31.34
$1.09 COP 4,552
16.51%
White Bread (500g)
$0.8 ZMW 19.66
$1.24 COP 5,188
-35.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 ZMW 40.9
$1.33 COP 5,544
24.81%
Eggs
$1.79 ZMW 44.03
$2.22 COP 9,252
-19.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.84 ZMW 193
$4.55 COP 19K
72.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.81 ZMW 93.7
$5.71 COP 23.8K
-33.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.73 ZMW 116
$8.59 COP 35.8K
-44.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 ZMW 61.2
$2.26 COP 9,410
10.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ZMW 40.93
$1.07 COP 4,461
55.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 ZMW 68.6
$1.51 COP 6,293
84.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.12 ZMW 27.52
$1.42 COP 5,911
-21.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.87 ZMW 46.08
$1.11 COP 4,619
68.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ZMW 33.86
$1.18 COP 4,932
16.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 ZMW 22.89
$0.89 COP 3,718
4.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ZMW 12.01
$0.84 COP 3,507
-41.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.43 ZMW 59.7
$2.35 COP 9,809
3.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.7 ZMW 165
$9.34 COP 38.9K
-28.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 ZMW 26.83
$1.18 COP 4,927
-7.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ZMW 38.64
$2.49 COP 10.4K
-36.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 ZMW 25.19
$0.83 COP 3,464
22.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.27 ZMW 942
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-8.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 ZMW 65.6
$1.41 COP 5,899
89.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 ZMW 28.23
$1.96 COP 8,164
-41.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.45 ZMW 232
$7.85 COP 32.7K
20.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.2 ZMW 29.51
$1.02 COP 4,265
17.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,101 ZMW 199.3K
$17.6K COP 73.4M
-53.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K ZMW 692K
$26.2K COP 109.2M
7.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.5 ZMW 2,250
$82.5 COP 344.1K
10.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.1 ZMW 1,305
$9.44 COP 39.4K
462.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$127 ZMW 3,118
$23.51 COP 98K
439.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.64 ZMW 1,123
$25.68 COP 107.1K
77.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.97 ZMW 344
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-27.01%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 ZMW 102
$3.96 COP 16.5K
4.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$174 ZMW 4,278
$305 COP 1.3M
-42.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,526 ZMW 234.3K
$5,925 COP 24.7M
60.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.76 ZMW 461
$57.9 COP 241.4K
-67.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.25 ZMW 424
$31.59 COP 131.7K
-45.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.2 ZMW 2,072
$103 COP 430.1K
-18.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ZMW 1,775
$106 COP 440.5K
-31.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$223 ZMW 5,475
$489 COP 2M
-54.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$124 ZMW 3,052
$379 COP 1.6M
-67.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 ZMW 25.4K
$827 COP 3.4M
25.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$605 ZMW 14.9K
$729 COP 3M
-17.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,020 ZMW 49.7K
$2,190 COP 9.1M
-7.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,856 ZMW 119.5K
$1,532 COP 6.4M
216.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$314 ZMW 7,714
$550 COP 2.3M
-42.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
25
13.43
86.15%

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

Last update for Lusaka: October 27, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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