Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lubumbashi Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lubumbashi

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 23% cheaper than Lubumbashi without rent, and 6.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 40.1% cheaper than Lubumbashi without rent, and 46.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.7K
$12.46 CDF 27.6K
-51.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 124.8K
$100 CDF 222.6K
-66.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.4K
$10.15 CDF 22.5K
-28.18%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,133
$4.11 CDF 9,120
-60.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,947
$1.02 CDF 2,256
2.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,899
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,510
$1.70 CDF 3,769
1.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$2.46 CDF 5,468
29.27%
đź›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,015
$2.03 CDF 4,503
-47.29%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,935
$1.14 CDF 2,529
14.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,195
$3.04 CDF 6,741
-54.61%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,457
$2.59 CDF 5,745
-13.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 16.9K
$14.95 CDF 33.2K
-70.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.6K
$7.32 CDF 16.2K
-21.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.3K
$15.26 CDF 33.9K
-41.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,438
$1.96 CDF 4,354
14.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,988
$3.06 CDF 6,783
-65.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,697
$5.11 CDF 11.3K
-70.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,119
$3.06 CDF 6,792
-55.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,218
$2.48 CDF 5,509
-54.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,400
$2.04 CDF 4,531
-42.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,395
$1.01 CDF 2,247
-10.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,150
$1.22 CDF 2,711
-31.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,501
$3.91 CDF 8,687
-42.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.5K
$12.27 CDF 27.2K
-18.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,451
$1.14 CDF 2,524
3.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 8,993
$2.11 CDF 4,683
13.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,233
$0.98 CDF 2,170
-12.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 156.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,521
$4.58 CDF 10.2K
-67.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,323
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.2K
$9.98 CDF 22.2K
-22.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,640
$1.36 CDF 3,028
-28.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 67.5M
$25.1K CDF 55.8M
-28.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 100.6M
$29.4K CDF 65.3M
-9.18%
đź§ľ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 305.2K
$98.6 CDF 218.8K
-17.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.4K
$20.22 CDF 44.9K
-53.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 88.8K
$60.0 CDF 133.1K
-60.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.1K
$73.1 CDF 162.2K
-65.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 72.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.4K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$134 CDF 296.8K
128.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.2M
$4,480 CDF 9.9M
31.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 225.1K
$22.92 CDF 50.9K
160.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 120.3K
$22.27 CDF 49.4K
43.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 386.5K
$60.3 CDF 133.8K
70.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 405.9K
$85.5 CDF 189.8K
26.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$770 CDF 1.7M
-37.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$254 CDF 563.1K
48.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$2,845 CDF 6.3M
-71.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$1,788 CDF 4.0M
-59.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
$993 CDF 2.2M
180.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
$490 CDF 1.1M
169.32%
đź’µ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$1,071 CDF 2.4M
-49.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Lubumbashi: March 1, 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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