Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Njombe Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Njombe

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $341 in Njombe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $510 in Njombe, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $680 in Njombe, rent included.

Medellin costs about 197% more than Njombe, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Njombe are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Njombe 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.01 TZS 2,604

7.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$0.60 TZS 1,557

110.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$0.93 TZS 2,406

48.39%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$1.37 TZS 3,535

59.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$3.85 TZS 9,924

46.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$3.05 TZS 7,878

191.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$1.59 TZS 4,106

47.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.73 TZS 4,459

-38.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$1.81 TZS 4,669

-17.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$0.97 TZS 2,511

42.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.37 TZS 3,540

-16.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$2.48 TZS 6,403

-53.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$0.37 TZS 961

140.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.38 TZS 974

121.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$1.77 TZS 4,557

28.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$1.88 TZS 4,846

465.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.37 TZS 3,542

-12.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$2.07 TZS 5,334

19.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.26 TZS 667

230.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$20.36 TZS 52.5K

103.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$1.58 TZS 4,071

-6.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$1.12 TZS 2,882

75.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$5.68 TZS 14.7K

36.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.27 TZS 3,263

-25.20%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$18.6K TZS 48.0M

-2.67%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$11.8K TZS 30.5M

124.06%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$21.57 TZS 55.6K

281.32%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$15.20 TZS 39.2K

-37.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$57.9 TZS 149.3K

-58.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$22.78 TZS 58.8K

13.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$7.51 TZS 19.4K

153.00%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$3.94 TZS 10.2K

-0.25%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$325 TZS 837.4K

-4.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$15.55 TZS 40.1K

277.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$20.90 TZS 53.9K

54.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$17.12 TZS 44.2K

499.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$15.59 TZS 40.2K

595.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$118 TZS 304.5K

303.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$38.33 TZS 98.9K

888.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$190 TZS 489.1K

341.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$114 TZS 294.7K

533.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$262 TZS 676.0K

95.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.92%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Njombe: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $118 in Njombe. 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 95% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Njombe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 197%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $511 in Njombe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 103% less in Njombe. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 65% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Njombe, where all-in costs run around $341, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Njombe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Njombe – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Njombe. 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.