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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $485 in Nyamata, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $775 in Nyamata, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,065 in Nyamata, rent included.

Medellin costs about 107% more than Nyamata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Nyamata are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Nyamata 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$3.53 RWF 5,167

67.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$10.34 RWF 15.1K

218.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$6.66 RWF 9,745

11.56%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.72 RWF 2,522

-4.07%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.70 RWF 1,028

57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.44 RWF 638

77.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.01 RWF 1,478

70.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$1.42 RWF 2,074

123.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$0.71 RWF 1,037

54.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.81 RWF 1,186

55.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.29 RWF 1,885

6.98%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.63 RWF 2,389

33.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$3.56 RWF 5,204

26.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$2.72 RWF 3,987

112.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$3.66 RWF 5,355

145.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$2.49 RWF 3,649

-6.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$0.43 RWF 631

146.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$0.70 RWF 1,028

117.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$0.58 RWF 847

134.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.48 RWF 695

135.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.76 RWF 1,112

53.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.33 RWF 488

172.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.71 RWF 1,036

26.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$1.43 RWF 2,094

55.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$10.23 RWF 15.0K

18.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$0.89 RWF 1,302

33.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.73 RWF 2,536

43.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$30.67 RWF 44.9K

35.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$2.70 RWF 3,947

-47.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.45 RWF 2,115

34.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$3.04 RWF 4,451

159.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.19 RWF 1,746

-16.81%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$26.7K RWF 39.1M

-34.08%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$24.5K RWF 35.9M

9.22%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$47.33 RWF 69.3K

75.39%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$9.04 RWF 13.2K

7.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$17.43 RWF 25.5K

34.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$47.67 RWF 69.8K

-47.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$2.13 RWF 3,123

85.45%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$154 RWF 224.7K

105.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$5,159 RWF 7.6M

15.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$16.90 RWF 24.7K

255.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$19.52 RWF 28.6K

63.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$24.76 RWF 36.2K

310.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$30.87 RWF 45.2K

248.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$104 RWF 152.4K

356.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$68.6 RWF 100.3K

445.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$341 RWF 498.4K

149.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$239 RWF 349.1K

201.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$186 RWF 272.8K

235.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

16.2

-17.10%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Nyamata: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $104 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 235% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $10.00 in Nyamata. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 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 107%, 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 $727 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $10.00 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $485 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 $485, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.