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

😐 Solo nomad: Lusaka is 15% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 17.3% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Lusaka is 1.4% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 4.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.35 ZMW 141
$6.03 COP 22.7K
21.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.43 ZMW 487
$33.17 COP 124.8K
-23.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.70 ZMW 70.7
$7.29 COP 27.4K
-49.25%
Cappuccino
$1.93 ZMW 36.94
$1.63 COP 6,133
18.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ZMW 13.18
$1.05 COP 3,947
-34.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ZMW 6.92
$0.77 COP 2,899
-53.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.89 ZMW 17.03
$1.73 COP 6,510
-48.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 ZMW 34.56
$3.18 COP 12.0K
-43.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 ZMW 24.17
$1.07 COP 4,015
17.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.74 ZMW 14.17
$1.31 COP 4,935
-43.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.59 ZMW 30.35
$1.38 COP 5,195
15.22%
Eggs
$1.82 ZMW 34.85
$2.25 COP 8,457
-19.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.93 ZMW 152
$4.48 COP 16.9K
77.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.83 ZMW 73.2
$5.74 COP 21.6K
-33.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.61 ZMW 88.2
$8.86 COP 33.3K
-47.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 ZMW 49.95
$2.24 COP 8,438
16.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ZMW 30.78
$1.06 COP 3,988
51.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 ZMW 51.5
$1.51 COP 5,697
78.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.12 ZMW 21.45
$1.36 COP 5,119
-17.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 ZMW 35.99
$1.12 COP 4,218
67.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.39 ZMW 26.56
$1.17 COP 4,400
18.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 ZMW 18.05
$0.90 COP 3,395
4.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ZMW 9.88
$0.84 COP 3,150
-38.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52 ZMW 48.29
$2.26 COP 8,501
11.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.48 ZMW 143
$9.97 COP 37.5K
-24.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 ZMW 21.82
$1.18 COP 4,451
-3.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ZMW 29.94
$2.39 COP 8,993
-34.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 ZMW 18.25
$0.86 COP 3,233
10.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.75 ZMW 741
$41.45 COP 156.0K
-6.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.77 ZMW 53.0
$1.47 COP 5,521
88.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 ZMW 21.92
$1.95 COP 7,323
-41.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.03 ZMW 173
$7.76 COP 29.2K
16.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 ZMW 22.89
$0.97 COP 3,640
23.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,118 ZMW 155.3K
$17.9K COP 67.5M
-54.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K ZMW 536.8K
$26.7K COP 100.6M
5.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.3 ZMW 1,727
$81.1 COP 305.2K
11.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.0 ZMW 994
$9.40 COP 35.4K
452.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$127 ZMW 2,433
$23.61 COP 88.8K
438.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.62 ZMW 854
$25.55 COP 96.1K
74.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.95 ZMW 267
$19.29 COP 72.6K
-27.68%
Cinema Ticket
$4.14 ZMW 79.2
$4.10 COP 15.4K
0.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$176 ZMW 3,358
$306 COP 1.2M
-42.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,737 ZMW 186.3K
$5,899 COP 22.2M
65.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.25 ZMW 368
$59.8 COP 225.1K
-67.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.30 ZMW 331
$31.96 COP 120.3K
-45.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.4 ZMW 1,614
$103 COP 386.5K
-17.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.4 ZMW 1,423
$108 COP 405.9K
-31.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$225 ZMW 4,303
$483 COP 1.8M
-53.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$123 ZMW 2,360
$377 COP 1.4M
-67.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,056 ZMW 20.2K
$822 COP 3.1M
28.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$583 ZMW 11.2K
$721 COP 2.7M
-19.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,942 ZMW 37.2K
$2,784 COP 10.5M
-30.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,863 ZMW 73.9K
$1,320 COP 5.0M
192.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$348 ZMW 6,666
$538 COP 2.0M
-35.19%
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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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