😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $529 in Nampula, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $708 in Nampula, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $887 in Nampula, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 218% more than Nampula, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Nampula is 61% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Nampula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$5.63MZN 356
42.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$0.80MZN 50.7
138.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$0.41MZN 25.81
268.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$1.57MZN 99.6
98.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nampula
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.78MZN 113
-19.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$0.49MZN 31.14
408.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$1.10MZN 69.7
60.91%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$2.82MZN 178
4.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$10.01MZN 633
0.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$3.42MZN 217
195.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$3.93MZN 248
263.87%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$2.62MZN 166
58.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$2.32MZN 147
-30.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$1.95MZN 123
15.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$1.52MZN 96.2
48.03%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$1.41MZN 89.4
44.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$1.69MZN 107
-8.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$0.79MZN 49.81
48.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.85MZN 53.5
54.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$6.36MZN 402
120.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$2.39MZN 151
-27.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nampula
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$0.17MZN 10.45
617.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$1.54MZN 97.4
-14.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$2.42MZN 153
-9.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$1.50MZN 95.0
-8.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nampula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$120MZN 7,577
48.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$33.82MZN 2,139
-58.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$125MZN 7,905
-76.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nampula
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nampula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nampula
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nampula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$927MZN 58.6K
103.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nampula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
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: September 14, 2026
Last update for Nampula: September 14, 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
Medellin vs Nampula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nampula cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 218%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $794 in Nampula. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Nampula?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $529 in Nampula. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Nampula?
Groceries cost about 64% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Nampula?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nampula, where all-in costs run around $529, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Nampula it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Nampula more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nampula – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nampula. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.