Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zliten Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Zliten

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $321 in Zliten, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $516 in Zliten, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $712 in Zliten, rent included.

Medellin costs about 213% more than Zliten, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Zliten are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Zliten 76% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$3.01 LYD 19.18
96.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
$14.61 LYD 93.2
125.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$2.41 LYD 15.38
208.30%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.53 LYD 3.36
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.72 LYD 4.61
-
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
$0.42 LYD 2.66
292.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
$0.45 LYD 2.85
144.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
$0.11 LYD 0.69
609.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$0.86 LYD 5.46
27.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$0.21 LYD 1.33
500.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$0.86 LYD 5.47
60.47%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$1.24 LYD 7.87
75.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$4.42 LYD 28.17
1.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$2.85 LYD 18.15
103.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$10.19 LYD 65.0
-11.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$1.08 LYD 6.91
114.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$1.20 LYD 7.68
-11.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$0.63 LYD 4.00
141.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$0.56 LYD 3.59
142.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$0.70 LYD 4.45
61.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$0.51 LYD 3.24
129.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
$0.33 LYD 2.13
172.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$0.20 LYD 1.27
350.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.21 LYD 7.74
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.66 LYD 4.23
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.44 LYD 2.80
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
$1.84 LYD 11.75
21.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
$0.18 LYD 1.17
372.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
$8.22 LYD 52.4
406.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
$0.88 LYD 5.63
61.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
$0.89 LYD 5.65
119.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
$3.68 LYD 23.46
114.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
$0.03 LYD 0.20
3200.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
$14.0K LYD 89.1K
25.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
$15.8K LYD 100.8K
69.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
$18.66 LYD 119
344.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
$5.35 LYD 34.08
81.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$22.61 LYD 144
4.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
$16.32 LYD 104
54.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$4.48 LYD 28.54
-11.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
$36.57 LYD 233
763.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$645 LYD 4,109
826.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
$11.06 LYD 70.5
442.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
$11.81 LYD 75.3
169.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
$42.03 LYD 268
141.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
$22.22 LYD 142
383.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$73.4 LYD 468
546.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$51.0 LYD 325
632.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$194 LYD 1,236
338.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$90.9 LYD 580
691.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
12.5
7.44%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Zliten: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $73.4 in Zliten. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $15.00 in Zliten. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $102 – making Zliten 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 Zliten: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zliten cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 213%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $481 in Zliten. 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 Zliten, 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 in Zliten?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $15.00 in Zliten. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Zliten?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $321 in Zliten. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Zliten?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zliten, where all-in costs run around $321, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Zliten it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Zliten more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zliten – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Zliten. 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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