Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zambia

For one person, living is cheaper in Zambia: $905 a month against $1,589 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $8,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
🇿🇲 Zambia
$905
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 24% more expensive than Zambia without rent, and 75.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 27.8% more expensive than Zambia without rent, and 35% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Zambia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01 COP 25.5K
$6.84 ZMW 136
17.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55 COP 148.3K
$30.13 ZMW 597
54.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 COP 30.1K
$5.20 ZMW 103
81.35%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,277
$3.03 ZMW 60.1
-3.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 COP 5,585
$0.78 ZMW 15.38
124.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 COP 4,218
$0.49 ZMW 9.72
169.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 COP 9,969
$1.30 ZMW 25.73
140.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 COP 17.7K
$2.53 ZMW 50.3
119.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Zambia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 COP 4,495
$1.88 ZMW 37.25
-25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 COP 7,777
$1.23 ZMW 24.32
98.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,191
$2.44 ZMW 48.42
-33.20%
Eggs
$2.82 COP 8,990
$1.84 ZMW 36.42
53.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 COP 30.9K
$10.44 ZMW 207
-7.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.32 COP 29.7K
$6.54 ZMW 130
42.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 COP 42.9K
$6.13 ZMW 122
119.58%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 COP 12.8K
$3.48 ZMW 68.9
14.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 COP 4,719
$2.14 ZMW 42.42
-30.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 COP 6,768
$3.51 ZMW 69.5
-39.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,178
$1.57 ZMW 31.15
43.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 COP 6,092
$2.81 ZMW 55.7
-32.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 COP 5,160
$1.90 ZMW 37.77
-14.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,658
$1.15 ZMW 22.88
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 COP 4,021
$0.71 ZMW 14.09
77.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82 COP 12.2K
$2.84 ZMW 56.3
34.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.11 COP 41.8K
$10.13 ZMW 201
29.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 5,083
$1.41 ZMW 27.94
13.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,188
$2.10 ZMW 41.62
7.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Zambia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,731
$0.98 ZMW 19.52
19.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.0 COP 239.0K
$50.2 ZMW 995
49.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,056
$2.57 ZMW 50.9
-50.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,531
$1.69 ZMW 33.60
21.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 COP 26.1K
$8.94 ZMW 177
-8.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 COP 4,046
$1.46 ZMW 28.88
-13.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K COP 85.3M
$6,225 ZMW 123.4K
330.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K COP 109.6M
$38.8K ZMW 768.5K
-11.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Zambia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 COP 516.9K
$89.7 ZMW 1,778
80.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 COP 41.8K
$10.95 ZMW 217
19.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09 COP 89.5K
$58.9 ZMW 1,169
-52.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Zambia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.33 COP 141.2K
$50.3 ZMW 998
-11.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 COP 52.0K
$16.39 ZMW 325
-0.37%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 COP 19.4K
$6.80 ZMW 135
-10.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Zambia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$764 COP 2.4M
$142 ZMW 2,821
437.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,904 COP 28.4M
$16.8K ZMW 333.1K
-46.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Zambia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 COP 270.8K
$24.56 ZMW 487
245.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 COP 183.2K
$14.64 ZMW 290
292.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 COP 419.8K
$59.2 ZMW 1,174
122.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 COP 305.1K
$75.9 ZMW 1,505
26.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Zambia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$453 ZMW 8,980
127.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 COP 1.9M
$174 ZMW 3,443
248.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 COP 5.7M
$1,074 ZMW 21.3K
67.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$993 COP 3.2M
$720 ZMW 14.3K
37.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,921 COP 12.5M
$3,941 ZMW 78.1K
-0.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,639 COP 5.2M
$6,414 ZMW 127.2K
-74.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Zambia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$626 COP 2.0M
$428 ZMW 8,485
46.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
26.25
-58.32%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026

Last update for Zambia: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$604
Zambia
$174 71.3% $431
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$288
Zambia
$240 17% $49
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$203
Zambia
$160 21.6% $44
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$166
Zambia
$78 52.9% $88
Eating Out
Medellin
$166
Zambia
$123 25.9% $43
Getting Around
Medellin
$91
Zambia
$65 28.6% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Zambia
$64 13.1% $7.4
Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇿🇲 Zambia
🕒 Local time
05:48 5:48 AM
12:48 12:48 PM
7 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
19,610,769
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZMW, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3,187 COP (10,000 COP = 3.14 USD). 1 EUR = 3,571 COP (10,000 COP = 2.8 EUR).

Zambian Kwacha exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 19.83 ZMW (100 ZMW = 5.04 USD). 1 EUR = 22.22 ZMW (100 ZMW = 4.5 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Zambia 11,680 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Zambia

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

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