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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $136 in Zimba, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $217 in Zimba, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $299 in Zimba, rent included.

Medellin costs about 1161% more than Zimba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Zimba is 90% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.03 COP 25.2K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.26 COP 151.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 COP 30.7K

$3.12 ZMW 59.7

213.14%

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,149

$1.61 ZMW 30.73

80.75%

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

$1.94 COP 6,110

$0.76 ZMW 14.54

155.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 COP 4,783

$0.36 ZMW 6.83

322.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,721

$0.76 ZMW 14.61

306.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 18.1K

$1.03 ZMW 19.66

457.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,287

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,505

$1.07 ZMW 20.45

123.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,346

$1.55 ZMW 29.64

9.68%

Eggs

$2.87 COP 9,021

$1.36 ZMW 25.95

111.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 COP 31.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 COP 33.9K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 COP 46.3K

$3.78 ZMW 72.1

289.68%

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 COP 12.8K

$1.87 ZMW 35.64

118.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,940

$1.57 ZMW 29.93

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,682

$3.25 ZMW 62.0

-34.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,959

$0.83 ZMW 15.77

166.27%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,435

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 COP 4,728

$0.82 ZMW 15.70

82.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,740

$0.86 ZMW 16.48

38.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 COP 3,640

$0.51 ZMW 9.76

127.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.4K

$6.24 ZMW 119

131.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,978

$0.82 ZMW 15.63

92.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,889

$1.07 ZMW 20.46

164.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,672

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 244.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,038

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,576

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 27.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,080

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

$27.7K COP 86.9M

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

$35.5K COP 111.6M

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

$176 COP 553.4K

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

$13.37 COP 42.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.89 COP 94.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 140.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.6K

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.5K

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

$793 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 COP 269.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 183.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 428.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 324.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Zimba: August 31, 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 1161%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $204 in Zimba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $136 in Zimba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 205% 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 $136, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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.