Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lilongwe Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lilongwe

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 34.3% more expensive than Lilongwe without rent, and 75.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 7.7% more expensive than Lilongwe without rent, and 28% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Lilongwe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$4.95 MWK 8,493
25.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$32.35 MWK 55.5K
-0.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$10.11 MWK 17.4K
-26.90%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$3 MWK 5,151
-42.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.9 MWK 1,542
22.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.38 MWK 659
92.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$1.72 MWK 2,947
-3.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$3.92 MWK 6,727
-18.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lilongwe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1 MWK 1,719
9.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.26 MWK 2,157
-1.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.71 MWK 2,929
-22.22%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.64 MWK 4,531
-15.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$15.92 MWK 27.3K
-71.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$3.28 MWK 5,638
74.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$4 MWK 6,864
114.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$2.64 MWK 4,532
-14.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.03 MWK 1,765
3.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$1.51 MWK 2,598
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$1.5 MWK 2,582
-5.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.4 MWK 2,411
-20.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.28 MWK 2,191
-7.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.65 MWK 1,117
29.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$1.62 MWK 2,778
45.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$14.81 MWK 25.4K
-36.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.03 MWK 1,775
14.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.88 MWK 3,225
32.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lilongwe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.94 MWK 1,606
-11.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$4.24 MWK 7,280
888.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$2.57 MWK 4,414
-23.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$2.21 MWK 3,797
255.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.59 MWK 2,738
-35.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lilongwe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$44.67 MWK 76.7K
84.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$11.59 MWK 19.9K
-18.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$63.5 MWK 109K
-62.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lilongwe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$38.07 MWK 65.4K
-32.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$3.88 MWK 6,662
2.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lilongwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$343 MWK 589.7K
-11.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$2,351 MWK 4M
152.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lilongwe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lilongwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$68.3 MWK 117.2K
455.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$267 MWK 457.9K
210.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$563 MWK 966.9K
29.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$16.1K MWK 27.6M
-86.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lilongwe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$280 MWK 480.6K
96.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
0
-

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Lilongwe: October 28, 2025

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