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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $472 in Nyamata, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $788 in Nyamata, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,105 in Nyamata, rent included.

Medellin costs about 115% more than Nyamata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Nyamata are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Nyamata 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$3.51 RWF 5,124

69.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$10.36 RWF 15.1K

221.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$6.69 RWF 9,770

8.07%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.69 RWF 2,465

-3.55%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.67 RWF 978

62.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.40 RWF 590

82.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.07 RWF 1,562

62.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$1.41 RWF 2,053

129.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$0.70 RWF 1,024

50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.82 RWF 1,193

57.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.23 RWF 1,791

7.32%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.69 RWF 2,467

34.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$3.52 RWF 5,140

23.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$2.73 RWF 3,983

115.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$3.68 RWF 5,371

133.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.44 RWF 3,563

-7.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$0.44 RWF 636

143.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$0.71 RWF 1,030

114.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$0.53 RWF 781

167.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.48 RWF 700

143.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.83 RWF 1,208

40.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.36 RWF 526

147.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.67 RWF 975

34.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$1.41 RWF 2,064

59.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$10.32 RWF 15.1K

6.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$0.98 RWF 1,424

16.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$1.79 RWF 2,612

32.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$31.02 RWF 45.3K

35.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$2.59 RWF 3,787

-45.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$1.45 RWF 2,122

31.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$3.05 RWF 4,447

154.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.14 RWF 1,668

-11.40%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$26.6K RWF 38.8M

-33.89%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$23.9K RWF 34.9M

10.81%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$47.45 RWF 69.3K

76.35%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$8.68 RWF 12.7K

8.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$17.06 RWF 24.9K

41.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$48.02 RWF 70.1K

-47.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$2.02 RWF 2,945

102.97%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$152 RWF 222.1K

105.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$5,117 RWF 7.5M

17.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$17.08 RWF 24.9K

239.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$19.60 RWF 28.6K

66.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$24.24 RWF 35.4K

310.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$31.53 RWF 46.0K

244.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$103 RWF 150.7K

367.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$68.8 RWF 100.4K

451.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$351 RWF 511.8K

138.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$244 RWF 355.6K

196.82%

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

$185 RWF 269.8K

192.62%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Nyamata: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $103 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 193% 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 $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 115%, 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 $709 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 $1,017 in Medellin and $472 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 $472, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.