Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Malawi
For one person, living is cheaper in Malawi: $666 a month against $1,589 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
-
Medellin Living Index77Cost of Living Index in MedellinLearn more -
Malawi Living Index32Cost of Living Index in MalawiLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 51.4% more expensive than Malawi without rent, and 138.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 70.6% more expensive than Malawi without rent, and 93.4% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Malawi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01 COP 25.5K
$5.09 MWK 8,739
57.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55 COP 148.3K
$26.28 MWK 45.1K
77.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 COP 30.1K
$6.55 MWK 11.2K
43.97%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,277
$3.22 MWK 5,531
-9.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 COP 5,585
$0.87 MWK 1,490
101.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 COP 4,218
$0.46 MWK 792
186.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 COP 9,969
$1.46 MWK 2,506
114.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 COP 17.7K
$2.92 MWK 5,017
90.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Malawi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 COP 4,495
$1.14 MWK 1,961
23.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 COP 7,777
$1.31 MWK 2,253
86.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,191
$1.72 MWK 2,951
-5.23%
Eggs
$2.82 COP 8,990
$2.15 MWK 3,693
31.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 COP 30.9K
$7.61 MWK 13.1K
27.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.32 COP 29.7K
$3.75 MWK 6,446
148.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 COP 42.9K
$5.71 MWK 9,806
135.73%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 COP 12.8K
$2.49 MWK 4,280
60.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 COP 4,719
$1.79 MWK 3,074
-17.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 COP 6,768
$2.26 MWK 3,875
-6.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,178
$1.11 MWK 1,913
102.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 COP 6,092
$1.35 MWK 2,321
41.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 COP 5,160
$1.46 MWK 2,506
10.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,658
$0.31 MWK 527
270.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 COP 4,021
$1.29 MWK 2,214
-2.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82 COP 12.2K
$2.34 MWK 4,023
63.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.11 COP 41.8K
$14.48 MWK 24.9K
-9.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 5,083
$1.09 MWK 1,865
46.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,188
$2.10 MWK 3,614
7.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Malawi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,731
$0.83 MWK 1,432
40.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.0 COP 239.0K
$2.17 MWK 3,734
3357.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,056
$0.61 MWK 1,055
108.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,531
$2.42 MWK 4,153
-15.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 COP 26.1K
$2.14 MWK 3,675
283.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 COP 4,046
$1.52 MWK 2,605
-16.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K COP 85.3M
$35.5K MWK 60.9M
-24.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K COP 109.6M
$39.7K MWK 68.2M
-13.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Malawi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 COP 516.9K
$38.60 MWK 66.3K
320.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 COP 41.8K
$10.11 MWK 17.4K
29.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09 COP 89.5K
$76.9 MWK 132.0K
-63.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Malawi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.33 COP 141.2K
$36.17 MWK 62.1K
22.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 COP 52.0K
$15.02 MWK 25.8K
8.72%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 COP 19.4K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Malawi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$764 COP 2.4M
$378 MWK 648.6K
102.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,904 COP 28.4M
$594 MWK 1.0M
1398.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Malawi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 COP 270.8K
$43.70 MWK 75.0K
94.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 COP 183.2K
$39.41 MWK 67.7K
45.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 COP 419.8K
$48.86 MWK 83.9K
169.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 COP 305.1K
$69.1 MWK 118.6K
38.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Malawi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$230 MWK 394.6K
347.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 COP 1.9M
$79.0 MWK 135.7K
664.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 COP 5.7M
$557 MWK 955.6K
223.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$993 COP 3.2M
$380 MWK 652.1K
161.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,921 COP 12.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,639 COP 5.2M
$390 MWK 670.2K
319.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Malawi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$626 COP 2.0M
$282 MWK 484.0K
122.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Last update for Malawi: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $604 38.3%
Malawi $79 11.9% 86.9% $525
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $288 18.3%
Malawi $199 29.9% 31.1% $90
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $203 12.9%
Malawi $126 18.9% 38.3% $78
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $166 10.6%
Malawi $90 13.6% 45.7% $76
Eating Out
Medellin $166 10.6%
Malawi $117 17.7% 29.4% $49
Getting Around
Medellin $91 5.8%
Malawi $18 2.7% 80% $73
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $57 3.6%
Malawi $36 * 5.4% 36% $20
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $993 31.9%
Malawi $380 23% 61.7% $613
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $664 21.3%
Malawi $445 26.9% 33% $219
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $217 7%
Malawi $136 8.2% 37.3% $81
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $370 11.9%
Malawi $201 12.2% 45.7% $169
Eating Out
Medellin $560 18%
Malawi $364 22.1% 34.9% $195
Getting Around
Medellin $185 5.9%
Malawi $38 2.3% 79.4% $147
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $129 4.2%
Malawi $87 * 5.3% 32.5% $42
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇲🇼 Malawi
Weather
Population
2,486,723
18,622,104
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Medellin Malawi 12,260 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
- Medellin
- Malawi
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,203
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,561
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Johannesburg
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,406
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Bogota
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,310
/mo nomad
Similar cities
🇲🇽 Mexico
77
Cost of Living Index in Mexico City
Learn more
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
79
Cost of Living Index in Budapest
Learn more
Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
81
Cost of Living Index in Buenos Aires
Learn more
Cape Town
🇿🇦 South Africa
76
Cost of Living Index in Cape Town
Learn more
Istanbul
🇹🇷 Turkey
74
Cost of Living Index in Istanbul
Learn more
Sofia
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
78
Cost of Living Index in Sofia
Learn more
Belgrade
🇷🇸 Serbia
76
Cost of Living Index in Belgrade
Learn more
Seminyak, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
78
Cost of Living Index in Seminyak, Bali
Learn more