Cost of Living Comparison Between Mwanza and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Mwanza and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $189 per month in Mwanza vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $293 per month in Mwanza vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $397 per month in Mwanza vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Mwanza is about 89% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mwanza sits 86% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.39 TZS 6,275

$8.03 COP 25.1K

-70.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.23 TZS 40.0K

$48.26 COP 151.0K

-68.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 TZS 12.0K

$9.77 COP 30.6K

-53.43%

Cappuccino

$2.67 TZS 7,007

$2.91 COP 9,107

-8.25%

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

$1.94 COP 6,082

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 TZS 708

$1.52 COP 4,760

-82.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 TZS 2,588

$3.09 COP 9,676

-68.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 TZS 3,530

$5.74 COP 18.0K

-76.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 TZS 2,388

$1.36 COP 4,267

-33.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 TZS 3,889

$2.39 COP 7,470

-38.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 TZS 2,530

$1.70 COP 5,321

-43.53%

Eggs

$2.13 TZS 5,609

$2.87 COP 8,979

-25.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 COP 31.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.78 COP 33.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.73 COP 46.1K

Apples (1kg)

$4.09 COP 12.8K

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,917

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,651

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,926

Potato (1kg)

$0.95 TZS 2,500

$2.05 COP 6,404

-53.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 TZS 3,402

$1.50 COP 4,706

-14.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,723

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 TZS 959

$1.16 COP 3,623

-68.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.58 COP 4,955

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,847

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,655

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 243.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,019

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,546

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 TZS 4,154

$1.30 COP 4,061

21.54%

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

$27.7K COP 86.5M

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

$35.5K COP 111.1M

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

$67.0 TZS 176.2K

$176 COP 550.9K

-61.95%

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

$13.37 COP 41.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.89 COP 93.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 140.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.4K

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

$793 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 COP 267.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 182.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 426.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 322.6K

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)

$190 TZS 500.4K

$665 COP 2.1M

-71.39%

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 Mwanza: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 250% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Mwanza versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $46.00 vs $303 – making Mwanza 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

Mwanza vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 806%, 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 $284 per month in Mwanza and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 558% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Mwanza and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mwanza, where all-in costs run around $189, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Mwanza it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mwanza – 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 Mwanza. 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.