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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $442 per month in Mbeya vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $669 per month in Mbeya vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $896 per month in Mbeya vs $2,167 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 67% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.27 TZS 61.1K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-28.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.86 TZS 20.6K

$7.34 COP 23.9K

7.08%

Cappuccino

$1.59 TZS 4,166

$1.72 COP 5,600

-7.56%

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

$0.37 TZS 975

$1.05 COP 3,420

-64.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,051

$0.77 COP 2,515

-48.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.76 TZS 1,988

$1.69 COP 5,488

-55.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.56 TZS 1,459

$1.05 COP 3,423

-46.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 TZS 2,478

$1.30 COP 4,236

-27.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 TZS 2,452

$1.40 COP 4,544

-33.57%

Eggs

$2.36 TZS 6,192

$2.16 COP 7,047

9.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.77 TZS 9,894

$4.39 COP 14.3K

-14.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 TZS 9,913

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-35.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.51 TZS 9,201

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-59.38%

Apples (1kg)

$1.19 TZS 3,118

$2.28 COP 7,426

-47.81%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,980

$1.11 COP 3,604

-32.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,475

$1.53 COP 4,983

-38.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 TZS 2,120

$1.35 COP 4,410

-40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 TZS 2,640

$1.13 COP 3,674

-10.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,959

$1.13 COP 3,692

-33.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 TZS 1,477

$0.85 COP 2,753

-34.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 TZS 1,983

$0.91 COP 2,975

-16.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.18 TZS 3,108

$2.34 COP 7,630

-49.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.88 TZS 10.2K

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-68.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 TZS 2,086

$1.20 COP 3,909

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 TZS 3,005

$2.49 COP 8,104

-53.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 TZS 1,074

$0.84 COP 2,728

-51.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 TZS 2,966

$1.42 COP 4,623

-20.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 TZS 4,470

$1.92 COP 6,235

-11.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 TZS 7,289

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-63.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 TZS 3,318

$0.99 COP 3,223

27.27%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$25.04 TZS 65.7K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-69.01%

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

$19.44 TZS 51.0K

$9.95 COP 32.4K

95.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.15 TZS 121.1K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

90.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.01 TZS 99.7K

$25.08 COP 81.7K

51.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$9.86 TZS 25.9K

$3.98 COP 13.0K

147.74%

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

$194 TZS 508.6K

$305 COP 993.5K

-36.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,146 TZS 3.0M

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-81.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.45 TZS 30.1K

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-80.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.85 TZS 25.8K

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-69.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.63 TZS 51.5K

$101 COP 327.9K

-80.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.38 TZS 71.8K

$108 COP 350.8K

-74.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 TZS 306.4K

$477 COP 1.6M

-75.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$76.6 TZS 201.0K

$376 COP 1.2M

-79.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$193 TZS 505.6K

$845 COP 2.7M

-77.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$117 TZS 307.1K

$730 COP 2.4M

-83.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 TZS 494.0K

$617 COP 2.0M

-69.48%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $117 in Mbeya versus $477 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 228% 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: $117 vs $193 – 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 133%, 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 $663 per month in Mbeya and $1,546 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 $442 in Mbeya and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $194 per month in Mbeya and $305 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 $442, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.