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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,117 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $2,556 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $3,995 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

Medellin is about 9% cheaper than Lubumbashi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Lubumbashi are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Lubumbashi 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$12.46 CDF 28.3K

-51.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$98.3 CDF 223.2K

-66.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$9.91 CDF 22.5K

-28.46%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$3.98 CDF 9,031

-57.04%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.97 CDF 2,209

13.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$1.77 CDF 4,012

-5.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$2.47 CDF 5,600

24.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$2.01 CDF 4,570

-45.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$1.15 CDF 2,618

9.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$2.92 CDF 6,628

-52.74%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$2.63 CDF 5,972

-16.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$15.22 CDF 34.5K

-71.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$7.35 CDF 16.7K

-23.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$15.54 CDF 35.3K

-42.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$2.01 CDF 4,573

16.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$2.95 CDF 6,687

-64.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$5.11 CDF 11.6K

-70.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$2.94 CDF 6,677

-53.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$2.46 CDF 5,581

-53.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$1.95 CDF 4,431

-40.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$0.99 CDF 2,244

-10.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.27 CDF 2,881

-33.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$4.03 CDF 9,146

-43.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$12.68 CDF 28.8K

-16.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.20 CDF 2,730

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$2.08 CDF 4,724

18.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.98 CDF 2,233

-12.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$4.46 CDF 10.1K

-67.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$9.82 CDF 22.3K

-21.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.36 CDF 3,084

-30.15%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$24.7K CDF 56.1M

-26.61%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$29.5K CDF 66.9M

-10.10%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$98.9 CDF 224.5K

-16.84%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$20.35 CDF 46.2K

-53.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$59.4 CDF 134.8K

-59.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$72.2 CDF 164.0K

-64.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$132 CDF 299.9K

134.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$4,465 CDF 10.1M

33.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$22.38 CDF 50.8K

162.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$22.32 CDF 50.7K

44.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$60.5 CDF 137.3K

69.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$84.3 CDF 191.4K

28.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$764 CDF 1.7M

-37.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$249 CDF 565.0K

52.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$2,858 CDF 6.5M

-70.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$1,813 CDF 4.1M

-60.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$988 CDF 2.2M

182.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$502 CDF 1.1M

141.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$1,068 CDF 2.4M

-52.10%

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 Lubumbashi: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $764 in Lubumbashi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 109% higher in Lubumbashi, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $98.0 in Lubumbashi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $312 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Lubumbashi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,013 in Medellin, $1,117 in Lubumbashi – roughly 10% apart. Lubumbashi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,676 in Lubumbashi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $1,117 in Lubumbashi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $132 in Lubumbashi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Lubumbashi at $1,117. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lubumbashi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,013 in Medellin to $1,117 in Lubumbashi. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lubumbashi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.