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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $431 per month in Mbeya vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $664 per month in Mbeya vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $898 per month in Mbeya vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Mbeya is about 75% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mbeya sits 69% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 COP 25.2K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.79 TZS 59.9K

$48.26 COP 151.7K

-52.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.51 TZS 19.7K

$9.77 COP 30.7K

-23.13%

Cappuccino

$1.47 TZS 3,863

$2.91 COP 9,149

-49.48%

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

$0.36 TZS 956

$1.94 COP 6,110

-81.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 TZS 1,045

$1.52 COP 4,783

-73.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.73 TZS 1,918

$3.09 COP 9,721

-76.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 18.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.55 TZS 1,437

$1.36 COP 4,287

-59.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 TZS 2,386

$2.39 COP 7,505

-61.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 TZS 2,420

$1.70 COP 5,346

-45.88%

Eggs

$2.28 TZS 5,995

$2.87 COP 9,021

-20.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.74 TZS 9,830

$9.94 COP 31.2K

-62.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 TZS 9,951

$10.78 COP 33.9K

-64.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.44 TZS 9,038

$14.73 COP 46.3K

-76.65%

Apples (1kg)

$1.15 TZS 3,026

$4.09 COP 12.8K

-71.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 TZS 2,038

$1.57 COP 4,940

-50.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,526

$2.13 COP 6,682

-54.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.72 TZS 1,892

$2.21 COP 6,959

-67.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 TZS 2,415

$2.05 COP 6,435

-55.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 TZS 2,035

$1.50 COP 4,728

-48.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 TZS 1,451

$1.19 COP 3,740

-53.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 TZS 2,035

$1.16 COP 3,640

-33.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.10 TZS 2,890

$3.90 COP 12.2K

-71.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.84 TZS 10.1K

$14.44 COP 45.4K

-73.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 TZS 1,943

$1.58 COP 4,978

-53.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 TZS 2,917

$2.83 COP 8,889

-60.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 TZS 1,036

$1.17 COP 3,672

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 244.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 TZS 2,916

$1.28 COP 4,038

-13.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 TZS 4,908

$2.09 COP 6,576

-10.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 TZS 7,031

$8.62 COP 27.1K

-69.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 TZS 3,133

$1.30 COP 4,080

-8.46%

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

$27.7K COP 86.9M

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

$35.5K COP 111.6M

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

$23.73 TZS 62.4K

$176 COP 553.4K

-86.52%

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

$18.80 TZS 49.4K

$13.37 COP 42.0K

40.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.63 TZS 117.3K

$29.89 COP 94.0K

49.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.61 TZS 98.9K

$44.76 COP 140.7K

-15.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.6K

Cinema Ticket

$9.46 TZS 24.9K

$6.20 COP 19.5K

52.58%

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

$185 TZS 486.7K

$793 COP 2.5M

-76.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,135 TZS 3.0M

$9,019 COP 28.4M

-87.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.37 TZS 29.9K

$85.6 COP 269.1K

-86.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$9.52 TZS 25.0K

$58.5 COP 183.8K

-83.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.10 TZS 50.2K

$136 COP 428.4K

-85.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.66 TZS 70.1K

$103 COP 324.1K

-74.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$112 TZS 293.7K

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-89.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.9 TZS 199.5K

$680 COP 2.1M

-88.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$188 TZS 493.6K

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-90.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 TZS 294.3K

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-90.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 TZS 504.5K

$665 COP 2.1M

-71.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

18.83%

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

Last update for Mbeya: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $112 in Mbeya versus $1,060 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 247% 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 $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $115 vs $303 – 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 299%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $646 per month in Mbeya and $2,574 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 $431 in Mbeya and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $185 per month in Mbeya and $793 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 $431, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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.