Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nkhotakota Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nkhotakota

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $277 in Nkhotakota, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $444 in Nkhotakota, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $612 in Nkhotakota, rent included.

Medellin costs about 262% more than Nkhotakota, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Nkhotakota are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Nkhotakota 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$4.98 MWK 8,553

18.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$5.15 MWK 8,841

-67.96%

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

$1.10 COP 3,514

$0.48 MWK 824

129.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$1.47 MWK 2,532

17.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$2.05 MWK 3,528

-46.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$0.52 MWK 900

142.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$0.97 MWK 1,669

42.27%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$1.77 MWK 3,042

23.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$3.02 MWK 5,187

48.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$3.02 MWK 5,183

91.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$4.02 MWK 6,897

123.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$4.90 MWK 8,414

-52.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$2.99 MWK 5,127

-64.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$2.06 MWK 3,536

-26.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$1.02 MWK 1,748

33.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$1.02 MWK 1,760

10.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$2.06 MWK 3,534

-43.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$1.99 MWK 3,414

-54.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

$1.02 MWK 1,750

16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

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

$83.0 COP 264.9K

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

$9.70 COP 30.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

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

$316 COP 1.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

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 27, 2026

Last update for Nkhotakota: July 28, 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 Nkhotakota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 262%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $415 in Nkhotakota. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $277 in Nkhotakota. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nkhotakota, where all-in costs run around $277, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Nkhotakota it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Nkhotakota. 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.