Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kitwe Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kitwe

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $218 in Kitwe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $350 in Kitwe, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $482 in Kitwe, rent included.

Medellin costs about 366% more than Kitwe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Kitwe are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Kitwe 84% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$3.02 ZMW 52.8

97.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.45 ZMW 25.41

12.41%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.60 ZMW 10.56

81.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.40 ZMW 6.93

82.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$0.91 ZMW 15.93

91.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$1.48 ZMW 25.88

118.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$0.84 ZMW 14.71

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.16 ZMW 20.19

11.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$3.72 ZMW 65.1

-64.52%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.91 ZMW 33.38

18.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$6.98 ZMW 122

-15.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$6.54 ZMW 114

31.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.87 ZMW 50.2

-21.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.15 ZMW 20.18

-6.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.20 ZMW 21.01

26.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.15 ZMW 20.17

23.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$3.01 ZMW 52.6

-61.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$2.36 ZMW 41.30

-50.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.15 ZMW 20.06

-22.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.57 ZMW 9.88

57.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$1.74 ZMW 30.44

29.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$0.75 ZMW 13.10

52.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$1.49 ZMW 26.11

59.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kitwe: June 6, 2026

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

Medellin vs Kitwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,017 in Medellin, $218 in Kitwe – roughly 366% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $327 in Kitwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $218 in Kitwe. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kitwe, where all-in costs run around $218, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Kitwe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $218 in Kitwe to $1,017 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Kitwe. 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.