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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 21.7% cheaper than Lubumbashi without rent, and 8.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 31.2% cheaper than Lubumbashi without rent, and 46.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$12.32 CDF 35.3K
-49.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$101 CDF 288.9K
-67.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$9.96 CDF 28.5K
-25.80%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$3.88 CDF 11.1K
-55.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$1.01 CDF 2,903
8.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$1.72 CDF 4,920
-3.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$2.48 CDF 7,114
29.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$2.02 CDF 5,776
-46.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.15 CDF 3,288
7.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$2.94 CDF 8,424
-54.76%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.67 CDF 7,642
-16.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$14.91 CDF 42.7K
-69.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$7.48 CDF 21.4K
-23.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$15.14 CDF 43.3K
-43.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$1.95 CDF 5,570
15.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$2.96 CDF 8,470
-63.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$5.07 CDF 14.5K
-70.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$3.01 CDF 8,630
-52.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$2.55 CDF 7,300
-56.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.98 CDF 5,662
-40.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.02 CDF 2,933
-12.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$1.22 CDF 3,489
-31.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$3.94 CDF 11.3K
-40.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$12.28 CDF 35.2K
-23.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.18 CDF 3,384
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$2.15 CDF 6,155
15.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$1.02 CDF 2,907
-18.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$4.55 CDF 13K
-69.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$10.03 CDF 28.7K
-21.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.4 CDF 4,011
-27.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$24.8K CDF 71M
-28.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$30K CDF 85.9M
-12.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$98.8 CDF 283K
-16.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$19.75 CDF 56.6K
-52.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$61 CDF 174.5K
-61.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$71.2 CDF 203.8K
-63.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$136 CDF 389K
124.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$4,510 CDF 12.9M
31.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$22.63 CDF 64.8K
155.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$22.15 CDF 63.4K
42.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$60.5 CDF 173.2K
70.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$84.4 CDF 241.8K
25.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$784 CDF 2.2M
-37.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$248 CDF 711.2K
52.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$2,888 CDF 8.3M
-71.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$1,796 CDF 5.1M
-59.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$998 CDF 2.9M
119.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$491 CDF 1.4M
212.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$1,047 CDF 3M
-47.50%
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 Lubumbashi: October 28, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.