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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $272 in Nkhotakota, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $440 in Nkhotakota, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $608 in Nkhotakota, rent included.

Medellin costs about 519% more than Nkhotakota, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Nkhotakota is 80% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$4.95 MWK 8,495

62.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$5.15 MWK 8,835

-39.22%

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

$0.48 MWK 829

297.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$1.46 MWK 2,508

113.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$2.03 MWK 3,481

-29.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$0.49 MWK 833

408.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$1.02 MWK 1,747

73.53%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$1.83 MWK 3,149

61.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

$3.06 MWK 5,257

229.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

$2.96 MWK 5,080

241.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

$4.11 MWK 7,064

247.93%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$5.14 MWK 8,821

-19.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

$2.92 MWK 5,010

-44.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

$2.06 MWK 3,536

9.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

$0.99 MWK 1,697

127.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

$0.99 MWK 1,699

106.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

$1.95 MWK 3,356

-21.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$1.98 MWK 3,393

-33.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

$1.01 MWK 1,736

72.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

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

$177 COP 553.2K

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

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

$813 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

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

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 519%, 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $407 in Nkhotakota. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $272 in Nkhotakota. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 85% 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 $272, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.