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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $271 in Nkhotakota, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $449 in Nkhotakota, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $628 in Nkhotakota, rent included.

Medellin costs about 275% more than Nkhotakota, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Nkhotakota are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Nkhotakota 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$4.91 MWK 8,435

21.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$4.93 MWK 8,458

-66.94%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.48 MWK 817

127.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.52 MWK 2,609

14.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$2.02 MWK 3,474

-48.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.52 MWK 889

148.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.97 MWK 1,667

36.08%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.76 MWK 3,016

28.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$3.04 MWK 5,225

43.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$2.97 MWK 5,094

97.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$3.89 MWK 6,677

121.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$4.96 MWK 8,525

-54.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$2.97 MWK 5,103

-63.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.95 MWK 3,350

-22.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$0.98 MWK 1,677

44.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.01 MWK 1,741

15.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.98 MWK 3,399

-40.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$2.02 MWK 3,460

-55.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$0.99 MWK 1,698

15.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Nkhotakota: June 9, 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 275%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $406 in Nkhotakota. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $271 in Nkhotakota. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 16% 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 $271, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.