Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Malawi and Medellin
For one person, living is cheaper in Malawi: $666 a month against $1,589 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Malawi Living Index32Cost of Living Index in MalawiLearn more -
Medellin Living Index77Cost of Living Index in MedellinLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Malawi is 33.9% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 58.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Malawi is 41.4% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 48.3% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Malawi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.09 MWK 8,739
$8.01 COP 25.5K
-36.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.28 MWK 45.1K
$46.55 COP 148.3K
-43.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.55 MWK 11.2K
$9.43 COP 30.1K
-30.54%
Cappuccino
$3.22 MWK 5,531
$2.91 COP 9,277
10.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 MWK 1,490
$1.75 COP 5,585
-50.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 MWK 792
$1.32 COP 4,218
-65.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.46 MWK 2,506
$3.13 COP 9,969
-53.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 MWK 5,017
$5.55 COP 17.7K
-47.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malawi
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 MWK 1,961
$1.41 COP 4,495
-19.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 MWK 2,253
$2.44 COP 7,777
-46.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 MWK 2,951
$1.63 COP 5,191
5.52%
Eggs
$2.15 MWK 3,693
$2.82 COP 8,990
-23.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.61 MWK 13.1K
$9.69 COP 30.9K
-21.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.75 MWK 6,446
$9.32 COP 29.7K
-59.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.71 MWK 9,806
$13.46 COP 42.9K
-57.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 MWK 4,280
$4.00 COP 12.8K
-37.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 MWK 3,074
$1.48 COP 4,719
20.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.26 MWK 3,875
$2.12 COP 6,768
6.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.11 MWK 1,913
$2.25 COP 7,178
-50.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.35 MWK 2,321
$1.91 COP 6,092
-29.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.46 MWK 2,506
$1.62 COP 5,160
-9.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.31 MWK 527
$1.15 COP 3,658
-73.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 MWK 2,214
$1.26 COP 4,021
2.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 MWK 4,023
$3.82 COP 12.2K
-38.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.48 MWK 24.9K
$13.11 COP 41.8K
10.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MWK 1,865
$1.60 COP 5,083
-31.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 MWK 3,614
$2.26 COP 7,188
-7.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Malawi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 MWK 1,432
$1.17 COP 3,731
-29.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$2.17 MWK 3,734
$75.0 COP 239.0K
-97.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.61 MWK 1,055
$1.27 COP 4,056
-51.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.42 MWK 4,153
$2.05 COP 6,531
18.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 MWK 3,675
$8.20 COP 26.1K
-73.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MWK 2,605
$1.27 COP 4,046
19.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K MWK 60.9M
$26.8K COP 85.3M
32.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K MWK 68.2M
$34.4K COP 109.6M
15.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malawi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.60 MWK 66.3K
$162 COP 516.9K
-76.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.11 MWK 17.4K
$13.12 COP 41.8K
-22.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.9 MWK 132.0K
$28.09 COP 89.5K
173.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malawi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.17 MWK 62.1K
$44.33 COP 141.2K
-18.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.02 MWK 25.8K
$16.33 COP 52.0K
-8.02%
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.09 COP 19.4K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malawi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$378 MWK 648.6K
$764 COP 2.4M
-50.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$594 MWK 1.0M
$8,904 COP 28.4M
-93.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malawi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.70 MWK 75.0K
$85.0 COP 270.8K
-48.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.41 MWK 67.7K
$57.5 COP 183.2K
-31.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.86 MWK 83.9K
$132 COP 419.8K
-62.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.1 MWK 118.6K
$95.8 COP 305.1K
-27.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malawi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$230 MWK 394.6K
$1,028 COP 3.3M
-77.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$79.0 MWK 135.7K
$604 COP 1.9M
-86.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$557 MWK 955.6K
$1,802 COP 5.7M
-69.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$380 MWK 652.1K
$993 COP 3.2M
-61.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,921 COP 12.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$390 MWK 670.2K
$1,639 COP 5.2M
-76.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malawi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$282 MWK 484.0K
$626 COP 2.0M
-54.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
10.94
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malawi: October 5, 2026
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Malawi $199 29.9%
Medellin $288 18.3% 45.1% $90
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malawi $126 18.9%
Medellin $203 12.9% 62% $78
Eating Out
Malawi $117 17.7%
Medellin $166 10.6% 41.6% $49
Clothing & Footwear
Malawi $90 13.6%
Medellin $166 10.6% 84% $76
Accommodation & Living
Malawi $79 11.9%
Medellin $604 38.3% 665% $525
Sport & Entertainment
Malawi $36 * 5.4%
Medellin $57 3.6% 56.2% $20
Getting Around
Malawi $18 2.7%
Medellin $91 5.8% 401% $73
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Groceries & Markets
Malawi $445 26.9%
Medellin $664 21.3% 49.3% $219
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malawi $136 8.2%
Medellin $217 7% 59.6% $81
Eating Out
Malawi $364 22.1%
Medellin $560 18% 53.6% $195
Clothing & Footwear
Malawi $201 12.2%
Medellin $370 11.9% 84% $169
Accommodation & Living
Malawi $380 23%
Medellin $993 31.9% 161% $613
Sport & Entertainment
Malawi $87 * 5.3%
Medellin $129 4.2% 48% $42
Getting Around
Malawi $38 2.3%
Medellin $185 5.9% 385% $147
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Good to know
🇲🇼 Malawi
🇨🇴 Medellin
Weather
Population
18,622,104
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Malawi Medellin 12,260 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
- Malawi
- Medellin
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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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