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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $221 in Kitwe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $358 in Kitwe, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $495 in Kitwe, rent included.

Medellin costs about 367% more than Kitwe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Kitwe are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Kitwe 83% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$2.87 ZMW 54.6

106.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$1.48 ZMW 28.12

14.86%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.57 ZMW 10.82

92.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.42 ZMW 8.01

71.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$0.85 ZMW 16.04

96.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$1.49 ZMW 28.21

108.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$0.91 ZMW 17.18

16.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$1.17 ZMW 22.11

6.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$3.62 ZMW 68.8

-61.60%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$1.91 ZMW 36.21

18.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$7.00 ZMW 133

-16.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$6.45 ZMW 122

36.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$2.89 ZMW 54.8

-22.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.17 ZMW 22.12

-7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$1.21 ZMW 22.96

26.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$1.21 ZMW 22.94

13.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$3.00 ZMW 57.0

-62.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$2.40 ZMW 45.60

-53.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$1.20 ZMW 22.76

-29.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.57 ZMW 10.83

59.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$1.75 ZMW 33.15

33.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$4.07 ZMW 77.3

173.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$0.74 ZMW 14.02

60.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$1.43 ZMW 27.13

65.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

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

$306 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kitwe: April 27, 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: $1,034 in Medellin, $221 in Kitwe – roughly 367% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $332 in Kitwe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $221 in Kitwe. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 12% 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 $221, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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 $221 in Kitwe to $1,034 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.