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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,094 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $2,546 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $3,999 in Lubumbashi, rent included.

Medellin is about 6% cheaper than Lubumbashi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Lubumbashi are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Lubumbashi 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$12.29 CDF 27.6K

-49.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$102 CDF 228.3K

-67.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$10.08 CDF 22.7K

-27.18%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$4.09 CDF 9,181

-57.95%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.99 CDF 2,220

6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$1.79 CDF 4,013

-5.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$2.44 CDF 5,492

29.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$2.04 CDF 4,574

-48.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$1.15 CDF 2,573

13.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$3.03 CDF 6,818

-53.80%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.63 CDF 5,902

-17.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$15.26 CDF 34.3K

-71.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$7.31 CDF 16.4K

-19.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$15.21 CDF 34.2K

-43.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$2.05 CDF 4,606

11.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$2.92 CDF 6,562

-61.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$5.03 CDF 11.3K

-69.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$2.98 CDF 6,684

-54.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$2.57 CDF 5,785

-56.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.94 CDF 4,359

-41.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.02 CDF 2,302

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.24 CDF 2,780

-26.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$3.92 CDF 8,810

-40.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$12.73 CDF 28.6K

-2.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.14 CDF 2,552

5.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$2.07 CDF 4,658

20.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$1.03 CDF 2,310

-18.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$4.62 CDF 10.4K

-69.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$9.96 CDF 22.4K

-23.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.35 CDF 3,039

-26.67%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$25.2K CDF 56.6M

-28.45%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$30.4K CDF 68.2M

-12.30%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$102 CDF 228.1K

-20.41%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$19.84 CDF 44.6K

-49.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$60.7 CDF 136.3K

-60.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$72.6 CDF 163.1K

-65.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$132 CDF 297.2K

130.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$4,420 CDF 9.9M

37.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$22.87 CDF 51.4K

154.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$22.64 CDF 50.9K

42.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$60.0 CDF 134.8K

67.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$84.2 CDF 189.1K

28.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$773 CDF 1.7M

-38.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$251 CDF 564.3K

49.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$2,921 CDF 6.6M

-71.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$1,773 CDF 4.0M

-58.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$1,013 CDF 2.3M

217.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$501 CDF 1.1M

173.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$1,072 CDF 2.4M

-42.45%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lubumbashi: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $773 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 74% 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 $102 in Lubumbashi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $311 – 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: $1,031 in Medellin, $1,094 in Lubumbashi – roughly 6% apart. Lubumbashi costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,641 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $1,094 in Lubumbashi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $305 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 $1,031, than in Lubumbashi at $1,094. 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 $1,031 in Medellin to $1,094 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.