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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 17.8% cheaper than Lubumbashi without rent, and 7.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 36.6% cheaper than Lubumbashi without rent, and 45.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COP 22.1K
$12.29 CDF 28.1K
-50.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COP 119.0K
$99.5 CDF 227.5K
-66.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COP 26.4K
$10.16 CDF 23.2K
-27.95%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COP 5,971
$4.12 CDF 9,420
-59.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,977
$0.97 CDF 2,229
13.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,815
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 6,172
$1.74 CDF 3,969
-1.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.4K
$2.49 CDF 5,684
27.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COP 4,002
$1.94 CDF 4,436
-42.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,707
$1.15 CDF 2,634
13.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,967
$3.06 CDF 6,986
-54.90%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 7,989
$2.56 CDF 5,861
-13.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.6K
$15.26 CDF 34.9K
-71.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.9K
$7.29 CDF 16.7K
-20.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COP 32.3K
$15.23 CDF 34.8K
-41.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 8,143
$2.02 CDF 4,609
11.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,013
$2.98 CDF 6,821
-62.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COP 5,271
$5.13 CDF 11.7K
-71.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,916
$3.07 CDF 7,025
-55.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,999
$2.47 CDF 5,657
-55.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,188
$2.03 CDF 4,638
-42.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,202
$1.02 CDF 2,322
-12.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,116
$1.26 CDF 2,890
-30.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,473
$4.08 CDF 9,325
-42.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COP 39.1K
$12.44 CDF 28.4K
-12.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,319
$1.18 CDF 2,703
1.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,923
$2.07 CDF 4,724
19.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,835
$0.99 CDF 2,256
-20.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COP 146.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 5,124
$4.40 CDF 10.1K
-67.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,882
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COP 27.5K
$9.85 CDF 22.5K
-22.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,481
$1.37 CDF 3,143
-29.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 65.2M
$25.0K CDF 57.2M
-27.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COP 94.7M
$29.7K CDF 68.0M
-11.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 292.8K
$98.1 CDF 224.3K
-17.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COP 34.7K
$19.84 CDF 45.4K
-51.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COP 87.7K
$59.9 CDF 136.9K
-59.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COP 93.7K
$72.2 CDF 165.2K
-63.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COP 68.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COP 14.0K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COP 1.1M
$132 CDF 302.8K
129.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COP 21.3M
$4,567 CDF 10.4M
29.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 211.3K
$22.27 CDF 50.9K
163.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COP 116.9K
$22.84 CDF 52.2K
42.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 366.3K
$60.7 CDF 138.8K
67.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 389.4K
$84.7 CDF 193.6K
27.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COP 1.7M
$769 CDF 1.8M
-38.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$246 CDF 562.8K
50.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COP 3.1M
$2,883 CDF 6.6M
-70.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$1,810 CDF 4.1M
-60.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COP 10.3M
$1,010 CDF 2.3M
184.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COP 5.0M
$492 CDF 1.1M
179.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lubumbashi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COP 1.9M
$1,047 CDF 2.4M
-48.30%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Lubumbashi: April 13, 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

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