Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbeya and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Mbeya and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $432 per month in Mbeya vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $669 per month in Mbeya vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $905 per month in Mbeya vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Mbeya is about 57% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mbeya and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Mbeya 68% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.32 TZS 60.1K

$32.86 COP 117.4K

-29.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.94 TZS 20.5K

$7.09 COP 25.3K

11.99%

Cappuccino

$1.58 TZS 4,065

$1.71 COP 6,115

-7.60%

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

$0.41 TZS 1,054

$1.10 COP 3,924

-62.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 TZS 1,048

$0.78 COP 2,781

-47.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.73 TZS 1,896

$1.68 COP 5,997

-56.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 TZS 1,426

$1.09 COP 3,906

-49.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 TZS 2,555

$1.26 COP 4,508

-21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 TZS 2,576

$1.38 COP 4,922

-27.54%

Eggs

$2.28 TZS 5,881

$2.19 COP 7,827

4.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.92 TZS 10.1K

$4.40 COP 15.7K

-10.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.81 TZS 9,832

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-32.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.53 TZS 9,101

$8.89 COP 31.8K

-60.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 TZS 2,959

$2.34 COP 8,349

-50.85%

Banana (1kg)

$0.79 TZS 2,048

$1.06 COP 3,777

-25.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,464

$1.50 COP 5,374

-36.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.74 TZS 1,908

$1.38 COP 4,924

-46.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,461

$1.15 COP 4,111

-17.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 TZS 2,076

$1.16 COP 4,155

-30.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 TZS 1,430

$0.89 COP 3,182

-38.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 TZS 1,922

$0.84 COP 2,997

-10.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.19 TZS 3,078

$2.28 COP 8,145

-47.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.89 TZS 10.0K

$10.64 COP 38.0K

-63.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 TZS 2,075

$1.20 COP 4,284

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 TZS 3,023

$2.47 COP 8,824

-52.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 TZS 962

$0.86 COP 3,056

-56.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 TZS 3,059

$1.47 COP 5,264

-19.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 TZS 4,540

$1.96 COP 7,009

-10.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 TZS 7,108

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-64.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 TZS 3,263

$0.95 COP 3,409

33.68%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$24.83 TZS 64.0K

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-69.81%

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

$19.42 TZS 50.1K

$9.50 COP 33.9K

104.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.89 TZS 118.4K

$24.23 COP 86.5K

89.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.67 TZS 99.7K

$25.89 COP 92.4K

49.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$9.49 TZS 24.5K

$3.93 COP 14.0K

141.48%

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

$193 TZS 498.9K

$309 COP 1.1M

-37.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,179 TZS 3.0M

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-80.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.44 TZS 29.5K

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-80.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.78 TZS 25.2K

$32.35 COP 115.5K

-69.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.68 TZS 50.7K

$103 COP 366.4K

-80.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.31 TZS 70.4K

$108 COP 387.2K

-74.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 TZS 297.1K

$476 COP 1.7M

-75.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.5 TZS 202.5K

$379 COP 1.4M

-79.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$191 TZS 492.9K

$838 COP 3.0M

-77.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$114 TZS 295.2K

$724 COP 2.6M

-84.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 TZS 491.4K

$512 COP 1.8M

-62.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-3.20%

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

Last update for Mbeya: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $115 in Mbeya versus $476 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 169% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Mbeya versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $118 vs $188 – making Mbeya 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

Mbeya vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 134%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $649 per month in Mbeya and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mbeya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $432 in Mbeya and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $193 per month in Mbeya and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mbeya, where all-in costs run around $432, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Mbeya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mbeya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mbeya. 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.