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

😐 Solo nomad: Lusaka is 14.1% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 16.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Lusaka is 0.8% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.23 ZMW 138
$6.14 COP 22.1K
17.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.83 ZMW 475
$33.05 COP 119.0K
-24.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.68 ZMW 70.4
$7.32 COP 26.4K
-49.73%
Cappuccino
$1.99 ZMW 38.11
$1.66 COP 5,971
19.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ZMW 13.85
$1.10 COP 3,977
-34.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ZMW 6.50
$0.78 COP 2,815
-56.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.92 ZMW 17.66
$1.71 COP 6,172
-46.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ZMW 33.24
$3.17 COP 11.4K
-45.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 ZMW 25.17
$1.11 COP 4,002
18.92%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ZMW 14.02
$1.31 COP 4,707
-44.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 ZMW 30.67
$1.38 COP 4,967
15.94%
Eggs
$1.84 ZMW 35.25
$2.22 COP 7,989
-17.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.70 ZMW 147
$4.34 COP 15.6K
77.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.98 ZMW 76.1
$5.80 COP 20.9K
-31.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.74 ZMW 90.7
$8.98 COP 32.3K
-47.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.48 ZMW 47.52
$2.26 COP 8,143
9.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ZMW 31.91
$1.11 COP 4,013
50.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 ZMW 53.5
$1.46 COP 5,271
91.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.17 ZMW 22.40
$1.37 COP 4,916
-14.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 ZMW 36.17
$1.11 COP 3,999
70.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ZMW 26.09
$1.16 COP 4,188
17.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 ZMW 17.92
$0.89 COP 3,202
5.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ZMW 9.17
$0.87 COP 3,116
-44.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53 ZMW 48.34
$2.35 COP 8,473
7.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.07 ZMW 154
$10.86 COP 39.1K
-25.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 ZMW 21.61
$1.20 COP 4,319
-5.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 ZMW 29.26
$2.48 COP 8,923
-38.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.00 ZMW 19.17
$0.79 COP 2,835
26.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.65 ZMW 739
$40.77 COP 146.8K
-5.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 ZMW 52.2
$1.42 COP 5,124
92.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.13 ZMW 21.63
$1.91 COP 6,882
-40.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.99 ZMW 172
$7.65 COP 27.5K
17.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ZMW 23.50
$0.97 COP 3,481
26.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$8,140 ZMW 155.7K
$18.1K COP 65.2M
-55.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5K ZMW 544.9K
$26.3K COP 94.7M
8.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.9 ZMW 1,778
$81.3 COP 292.8K
14.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.1 ZMW 1,016
$9.63 COP 34.7K
451.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$126 ZMW 2,402
$24.36 COP 87.7K
415.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.23 ZMW 865
$26.02 COP 93.7K
73.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.75 ZMW 263
$18.92 COP 68.1K
-27.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 ZMW 81.6
$3.89 COP 14.0K
9.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$175 ZMW 3,349
$304 COP 1.1M
-42.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,583 ZMW 183.3K
$5,902 COP 21.3M
62.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.74 ZMW 358
$58.7 COP 211.3K
-68.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.19 ZMW 329
$32.48 COP 116.9K
-47.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ZMW 1,642
$102 COP 366.3K
-15.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9 ZMW 1,414
$108 COP 389.4K
-31.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$222 ZMW 4,251
$474 COP 1.7M
-53.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$120 ZMW 2,299
$371 COP 1.3M
-67.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,042 ZMW 19.9K
$848 COP 3.1M
22.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$600 ZMW 11.5K
$716 COP 2.6M
-16.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,997 ZMW 38.2K
$2,871 COP 10.3M
-30.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,895 ZMW 74.5K
$1,375 COP 5.0M
183.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lusaka
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$344 ZMW 6,576
$542 COP 1.9M
-36.52%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

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

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