😐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 – Medellin25% lower, Zliten76% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$3.01LYD 19.18
96.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$14.61LYD 93.2
125.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$2.41LYD 15.38
208.30%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.53LYD 3.36
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.72LYD 4.61
-
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$0.42LYD 2.66
292.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$0.45LYD 2.85
144.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$0.11LYD 0.69
609.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$0.86LYD 5.46
27.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$0.21LYD 1.33
500.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$0.86LYD 5.47
60.47%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$1.24LYD 7.87
75.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$4.42LYD 28.17
1.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$2.85LYD 18.15
103.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$10.19LYD 65.0
-11.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$1.08LYD 6.91
114.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$1.20LYD 7.68
-11.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$0.63LYD 4.00
141.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$0.56LYD 3.59
142.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$0.70LYD 4.45
61.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$0.51LYD 3.24
129.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$0.33LYD 2.13
172.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.20LYD 1.27
350.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.21LYD 7.74
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.66LYD 4.23
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.44LYD 2.80
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$1.84LYD 11.75
21.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$0.18LYD 1.17
372.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
$8.22LYD 52.4
406.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$0.88LYD 5.63
61.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$0.89LYD 5.65
119.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$3.68LYD 23.46
114.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$0.03LYD 0.20
3200.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$14.0KLYD 89.1K
25.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$15.8KLYD 100.8K
69.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$18.66LYD 119
344.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$5.35LYD 34.08
81.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$22.61LYD 144
4.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$16.32LYD 104
54.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$4.48LYD 28.54
-11.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$36.57LYD 233
763.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$645LYD 4,109
826.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$11.06LYD 70.5
442.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$11.81LYD 75.3
169.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$42.03LYD 268
141.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$22.22LYD 142
383.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$73.4LYD 468
546.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$51.0LYD 325
632.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$194LYD 1,236
338.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$90.9LYD 580
691.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Zliten
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 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.