Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nyamata Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nyamata

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $564 in Nyamata, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $891 in Nyamata, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,218 in Nyamata, rent included.

Medellin costs about 198% more than Nyamata, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Nyamata is 59% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$2.63 RWF 3,865

204.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

$11.81 RWF 17.3K

305.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

$6.61 RWF 9,694

49.62%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$1.72 RWF 2,520

81.98%

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

$0.69 RWF 1,016

176.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$0.39 RWF 565

287.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$1.04 RWF 1,523

200.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$1.66 RWF 2,439

246.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$0.75 RWF 1,093

92.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$0.77 RWF 1,137

223.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$1.24 RWF 1,814

42.74%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$1.64 RWF 2,412

80.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

$3.62 RWF 5,309

178.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

$2.69 RWF 3,944

276.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

$3.96 RWF 5,812

261.11%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$2.46 RWF 3,609

68.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

$0.43 RWF 624

274.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

$0.67 RWF 982

235.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

$0.52 RWF 765

332.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

$0.45 RWF 656

353.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

$0.81 RWF 1,186

90.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

$0.36 RWF 523

225.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$0.67 RWF 981

95.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

$1.40 RWF 2,054

178.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

$10.35 RWF 15.2K

35.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

$0.96 RWF 1,416

81.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

$1.58 RWF 2,320

81.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

$30.56 RWF 44.8K

163.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

$2.61 RWF 3,828

-49.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

$2.01 RWF 2,952

8.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

$3.11 RWF 4,562

180.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$1.19 RWF 1,745

15.13%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

$25.7K RWF 37.8M

8.13%

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

$23.5K RWF 34.4M

52.47%

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

$177 COP 553.2K

$84.0 RWF 123.3K

111.07%

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

$7.11 RWF 10.4K

95.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$17.04 RWF 25.0K

74.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$103 RWF 151.5K

-56.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

$2.07 RWF 3,032

221.26%

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

$813 COP 2.5M

$114 RWF 167.0K

614.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

$9,588 RWF 14.1M

-4.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

$17.39 RWF 25.5K

414.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

$15.58 RWF 22.9K

278.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

$21.91 RWF 32.1K

530.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

$33.58 RWF 49.3K

204.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$101 RWF 147.5K

956.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$68.2 RWF 100.0K

872.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

$342 RWF 502.5K

451.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

$235 RWF 345.1K

336.72%

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

$183 RWF 267.9K

271.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

16.2

-32.47%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Nyamata: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $101 in Nyamata. 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 271% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $12.00 in Nyamata. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $124 – making Nyamata the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Nyamata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 198%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $846 in Nyamata. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $12.00 in Nyamata. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $564 in Nyamata. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nyamata, where all-in costs run around $564, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Nyamata it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Nyamata – 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 Nyamata. 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.