Cost of Living Comparison Between Ndola and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Ndola and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $722 per month in Ndola vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,700 per month in Ndola vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,678 per month in Ndola vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Ndola is about 29% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Ndola and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Ndola 46% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.10 ZMW 127

$5.99 COP 21.4K

18.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.46 ZMW 437

$32.86 COP 117.4K

-25.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.66 ZMW 65.3

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-48.38%

Cappuccino

$1.94 ZMW 34.61

$1.71 COP 6,115

13.45%

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

$0.38 ZMW 6.70

$1.10 COP 3,924

-65.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 ZMW 3.09

$0.78 COP 2,781

-78.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ZMW 16.76

$1.68 COP 5,997

-44.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ZMW 32.88

$3.07 COP 11.0K

-40.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 ZMW 22.15

$1.09 COP 3,906

13.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 ZMW 14.08

$1.26 COP 4,508

-37.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 ZMW 28.09

$1.38 COP 4,922

13.77%

Eggs

$1.26 ZMW 22.58

$2.19 COP 7,827

-42.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.55 ZMW 135

$4.40 COP 15.7K

71.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.95 ZMW 70.5

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-29.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.69 ZMW 83.8

$8.89 COP 31.8K

-47.24%

Apples (1kg)

$1.23 ZMW 21.87

$2.34 COP 8,349

-47.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 ZMW 29.45

$1.06 COP 3,777

55.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.78 ZMW 49.57

$1.50 COP 5,374

85.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ZMW 20.94

$1.38 COP 4,924

-15.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 ZMW 32.20

$1.15 COP 4,111

56.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ZMW 23.49

$1.16 COP 4,155

13.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 ZMW 16.36

$0.89 COP 3,182

3.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ZMW 9.12

$0.84 COP 2,997

-39.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.50 ZMW 44.66

$2.28 COP 8,145

9.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.85 ZMW 194

$10.64 COP 38.0K

1.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 ZMW 20.36

$1.20 COP 4,284

-5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ZMW 27.88

$2.47 COP 8,824

-36.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ZMW 9.90

$0.86 COP 3,056

-36.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 ZMW 32.63

$1.47 COP 5,264

24.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.44 ZMW 168

$7.74 COP 27.6K

21.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 ZMW 21.31

$0.95 COP 3,409

25.26%

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

$8,120 ZMW 144.9K

$18.1K COP 64.7M

-55.21%

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

$28.0K ZMW 500.4K

$26.5K COP 94.6M

5.84%

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

$91.8 ZMW 1,638

$82.3 COP 293.7K

11.60%

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

$36.35 ZMW 649

$9.50 COP 33.9K

282.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$124 ZMW 2,206

$24.23 COP 86.5K

409.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$4.06 ZMW 72.5

$3.93 COP 14.0K

3.31%

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

$173 ZMW 3,095

$309 COP 1.1M

-43.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,711 ZMW 173.3K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

62.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.00 ZMW 339

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-67.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.14 ZMW 306

$32.35 COP 115.5K

-47.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 ZMW 1,510

$103 COP 366.4K

-17.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.2 ZMW 1,307

$108 COP 387.2K

-32.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$126 ZMW 2,253

$476 COP 1.7M

-73.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$109 ZMW 1,953

$379 COP 1.4M

-71.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 ZMW 4,753

$838 COP 3.0M

-68.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,481 ZMW 26.4K

$724 COP 2.6M

104.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$610 ZMW 10.9K

$512 COP 1.8M

19.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

86.15%

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

Last update for Ndola: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $126 in Ndola versus $476 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 19% higher in Ndola, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Ndola versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $188 – making Ndola 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

Ndola vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,083 per month in Ndola and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ndola, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Ndola and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ndola, where all-in costs run around $722, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Ndola it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ndola – 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 Ndola. 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.