Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zimba Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zimba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $113 in Zimba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $174 in Zimba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $235 in Zimba, rent included.

Medellin costs about 808% more than Zimba, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Zimba are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Zimba 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$2.43 ZMW 44.19

202.06%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$1.28 ZMW 23.22

34.37%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.64 ZMW 11.74

64.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.30 ZMW 5.52

156.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$0.63 ZMW 11.47

168.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$0.85 ZMW 15.44

272.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$0.80 ZMW 14.54

62.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.20 ZMW 21.90

16.67%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$1.05 ZMW 19.18

105.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$2.93 ZMW 53.4

194.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$1.43 ZMW 25.98

59.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$1.27 ZMW 23.04

-12.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$2.43 ZMW 44.15

-37.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$0.63 ZMW 11.48

114.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$0.63 ZMW 11.53

79.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$0.69 ZMW 12.47

23.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.39 ZMW 7.13

133.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$6.62 ZMW 121

86.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$0.64 ZMW 11.63

87.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$0.85 ZMW 15.45

192.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Zimba: July 11, 2026

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 Zimba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 808%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $170 in Zimba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $113 in Zimba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 140% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zimba, where all-in costs run around $113, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Zimba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zimba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Zimba. 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.