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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $487 in Nyamata, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $780 in Nyamata, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,072 in Nyamata, rent included.

Medellin costs about 112% more than Nyamata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Nyamata are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Nyamata 64% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Nyamata
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$3.54 RWF 5,183
67.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$10.34 RWF 15.1K
216.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$6.51 RWF 9,530
10.60%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$1.76 RWF 2,579
-3.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$0.68 RWF 995
61.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$0.44 RWF 644
63.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
$1.06 RWF 1,554
57.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
$1.41 RWF 2,061
119.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nyamata
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$0.71 RWF 1,040
49.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$0.85 RWF 1,247
47.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$1.29 RWF 1,885
7.75%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$1.68 RWF 2,460
34.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$3.52 RWF 5,148
23.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$2.81 RWF 4,116
107.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$3.81 RWF 5,582
131.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$2.36 RWF 3,462
-5.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$0.43 RWF 631
151.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$0.71 RWF 1,043
115.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$0.57 RWF 836
140.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$0.48 RWF 700
135.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$0.78 RWF 1,136
43.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$0.37 RWF 536
129.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$0.68 RWF 992
33.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$1.37 RWF 2,002
70.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
$10.12 RWF 14.8K
9.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
$0.89 RWF 1,298
33.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
$1.81 RWF 2,644
30.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nyamata
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
$30.68 RWF 44.9K
34.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$2.60 RWF 3,813
-44.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$1.40 RWF 2,055
36.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$3.16 RWF 4,633
153.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$1.13 RWF 1,650
-16.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$27.2K RWF 39.8M
-34.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$24.4K RWF 35.7M
9.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nyamata
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$47.18 RWF 69.1K
77.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$8.55 RWF 12.5K
12.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$17.34 RWF 25.4K
39.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nyamata
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$47.14 RWF 69.0K
-45.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$2.12 RWF 3,104
84.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nyamata
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$154 RWF 225.3K
99.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$5,216 RWF 7.6M
13.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nyamata
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$16.77 RWF 24.5K
245.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$19.65 RWF 28.8K
61.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$24.12 RWF 35.3K
314.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$30.85 RWF 45.2K
247.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nyamata
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$106 RWF 154.6K
360.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$68.7 RWF 100.5K
435.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$348 RWF 510.2K
136.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$238 RWF 348.8K
200.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nyamata
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$182 RWF 266.1K
200.09%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Nyamata: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $106 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 200% 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: $190 vs $125 – 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
Is Nyamata cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 112%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $731 in Nyamata. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Nyamata?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Nyamata?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $487 in Nyamata. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Nyamata?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nyamata, where all-in costs run around $487, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Nyamata it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Nyamata more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Nyamata?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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