Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Butare Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Butare

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 129.1% more expensive than Butare without rent, and 124% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 120.9% more expensive than Butare without rent, and 120% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Butare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.8K
$1.77 RWF 2,586
240.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 125.6K
$20.66 RWF 30.1K
60.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.6K
$5.43 RWF 7,923
34.25%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,170
$1.71 RWF 2,491
-4.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,971
$0.59 RWF 857
77.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,916
$0.36 RWF 531
113.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,550
$0.71 RWF 1,033
143.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$1.07 RWF 1,559
197.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Butare
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,040
$0.39 RWF 574
174.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,965
$0.98 RWF 1,437
33.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,227
$0.91 RWF 1,323
51.65%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,509
$1.47 RWF 2,145
53.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 17.0K
$2.29 RWF 3,344
95.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.7K
$2.97 RWF 4,337
93.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.6K
$2.68 RWF 3,913
230.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,490
$2.26 RWF 3,294
-0.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 4,012
$0.89 RWF 1,297
19.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,732
$1.13 RWF 1,653
33.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,151
$0.79 RWF 1,156
72.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,244
$0.32 RWF 460
250.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,427
$0.47 RWF 682
148.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,416
$0.35 RWF 505
157.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,169
$0.58 RWF 843
44.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,553
$1.21 RWF 1,760
86.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.8K
$6.85 RWF 9,992
45.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,479
$0.90 RWF 1,309
31.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 9,048
$1.42 RWF 2,066
68.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Butare
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,253
$0.29 RWF 427
196.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 156.9K
$9.97 RWF 14.6K
315.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,555
$2.11 RWF 3,076
-30.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,367
$0.87 RWF 1,263
124.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.4K
$3.85 RWF 5,619
101.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,663
$0.77 RWF 1,130
25.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 68.0M
$17.0K RWF 24.8M
5.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 101.2M
$8,586 RWF 12.5M
211.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Butare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 307.1K
$37.05 RWF 54.1K
118.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.6K
$8.83 RWF 12.9K
6.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 89.4K
$17.66 RWF 25.8K
33.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Butare
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.7K
$26.01 RWF 38.0K
-1.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 73.0K
$5.56 RWF 8,116
246.94%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.5K
$3.45 RWF 5,029
18.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Butare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$93.2 RWF 136.0K
228.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.3M
$1,372 RWF 2.0M
329.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Butare
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 226.5K
$14.14 RWF 20.6K
323.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 121.0K
$19.66 RWF 28.7K
62.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 388.8K
$24.08 RWF 35.1K
326.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 408.4K
$31.51 RWF 46.0K
242.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Butare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$205 RWF 299.7K
135.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$140 RWF 203.7K
170.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$313 RWF 457.4K
162.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$236 RWF 343.9K
205.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Butare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$231 RWF 336.8K
132.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
16.2
-17.10%

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

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Butare: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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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