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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $269 in Nkhotakota, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $442 in Nkhotakota, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $614 in Nkhotakota, rent included.

Medellin costs about 284% more than Nkhotakota, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Nkhotakota are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Nkhotakota 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$5.06 MWK 8,795

17.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$4.86 MWK 8,458

-65.02%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.51 MWK 889

115.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$1.48 MWK 2,582

12.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.99 MWK 3,456

-46.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.52 MWK 906

140.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$1.02 MWK 1,770

36.27%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$1.78 MWK 3,092

26.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$2.97 MWK 5,170

45.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$2.94 MWK 5,112

98.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$4.06 MWK 7,065

117.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$5.10 MWK 8,864

-56.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$3.07 MWK 5,331

-64.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$2.04 MWK 3,552

-25.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$0.98 MWK 1,708

39.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$0.99 MWK 1,719

14.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$2.05 MWK 3,571

-45.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$2.05 MWK 3,564

-55.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$1.03 MWK 1,791

15.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

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

$306 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Nkhotakota: April 26, 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 284%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $404 in Nkhotakota. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $269 in Nkhotakota. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 14% 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 $269, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.