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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $581 in Lilongwe.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,129 in Lilongwe.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $1,676 in Lilongwe.

Living in Medellin is roughly 74% more expensive than Lilongwe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Lilongwe 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.3K

$4.97 MWK 8,539

20.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 116.9K

$32.48 MWK 55.8K

1.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.2K

$10.27 MWK 17.6K

-30.96%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,093

$3.12 MWK 5,349

-45.19%

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

$1.10 COP 3,910

$0.90 MWK 1,540

22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,771

$0.38 MWK 656

105.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,976

$1.69 MWK 2,897

-0.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$3.92 MWK 6,723

-21.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,892

$0.93 MWK 1,599

17.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,492

$1.20 MWK 2,057

5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,905

$1.69 MWK 2,910

-18.34%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,799

$2.69 MWK 4,627

-18.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$16.01 MWK 27.5K

-72.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.0K

$3.17 MWK 5,446

77.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.6K

$4.00 MWK 6,874

122.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,319

$2.61 MWK 4,483

-10.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,764

$0.97 MWK 1,667

9.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,355

$1.54 MWK 2,644

-2.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,906

$1.56 MWK 2,680

-11.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,097

$1.33 MWK 2,285

-13.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,141

$1.26 MWK 2,163

-7.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,170

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,986

$0.65 MWK 1,117

29.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,116

$1.62 MWK 2,789

40.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$14.37 MWK 24.7K

-25.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,268

$1.05 MWK 1,796

14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,793

$1.89 MWK 3,240

30.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,045

$0.96 MWK 1,651

-10.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.3K

$4.26 MWK 7,322

871.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,245

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,984

$2.53 MWK 4,341

-22.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.5K

$2.19 MWK 3,767

253.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,397

$1.65 MWK 2,830

-42.42%

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

$18.1K COP 64.5M

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

$26.5K COP 94.2M

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

$82.3 COP 292.7K

$44.67 MWK 76.7K

84.13%

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

$9.50 COP 33.8K

$11.56 MWK 19.9K

-17.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.2K

$62.5 MWK 107.4K

-61.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.1K

$37.37 MWK 64.2K

-30.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.6K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$4.05 MWK 6,949

-2.96%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$350 MWK 601.1K

-11.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.2M

$2,340 MWK 4.0M

154.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 208.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 385.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$68.2 MWK 117.0K

455.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$272 MWK 467.6K

207.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$554 MWK 952.0K

30.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$279 MWK 479.5K

83.26%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lilongwe: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 83% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $32.00 in Lilongwe. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $200, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.

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 Lilongwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lilongwe is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Medellin pays 83% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Lilongwe – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $581 in Lilongwe versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Lilongwe but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Lilongwe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Lilongwe is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Lilongwe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.