Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Zambia and Medellin
For one person, living is cheaper in Zambia: $905 a month against $1,589 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $8,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Zambia Living Index44Cost of Living Index in ZambiaLearn more -
Medellin Living Index77Cost of Living Index in MedellinLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Zambia is 19.3% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 43% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Zambia is 21.8% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 25.9% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Zambia
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.84 ZMW 136
$8.01 COP 25.5K
-14.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.13 ZMW 597
$46.55 COP 148.3K
-35.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.20 ZMW 103
$9.43 COP 30.1K
-44.86%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ZMW 60.1
$2.91 COP 9,277
4.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ZMW 15.38
$1.75 COP 5,585
-55.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ZMW 9.72
$1.32 COP 4,218
-62.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.30 ZMW 25.73
$3.13 COP 9,969
-58.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 ZMW 50.3
$5.55 COP 17.7K
-54.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zambia
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 ZMW 37.25
$1.41 COP 4,495
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 ZMW 24.32
$2.44 COP 7,777
-49.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.44 ZMW 48.42
$1.63 COP 5,191
49.69%
Eggs
$1.84 ZMW 36.42
$2.82 COP 8,990
-34.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.44 ZMW 207
$9.69 COP 30.9K
7.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.54 ZMW 130
$9.32 COP 29.7K
-29.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.13 ZMW 122
$13.46 COP 42.9K
-54.46%
Apples (1kg)
$3.48 ZMW 68.9
$4.00 COP 12.8K
-13.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 ZMW 42.42
$1.48 COP 4,719
44.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.51 ZMW 69.5
$2.12 COP 6,768
65.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.57 ZMW 31.15
$2.25 COP 7,178
-30.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.81 ZMW 55.7
$1.91 COP 6,092
47.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ZMW 37.77
$1.62 COP 5,160
17.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 ZMW 22.88
$1.15 COP 3,658
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ZMW 14.09
$1.26 COP 4,021
-43.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.84 ZMW 56.3
$3.82 COP 12.2K
-25.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 ZMW 201
$13.11 COP 41.8K
-22.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 ZMW 27.94
$1.60 COP 5,083
-11.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 ZMW 41.62
$2.26 COP 7,188
-7.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Zambia
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 ZMW 19.52
$1.17 COP 3,731
-16.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.2 ZMW 995
$75.0 COP 239.0K
-33.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 ZMW 50.9
$1.27 COP 4,056
102.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.69 ZMW 33.60
$2.05 COP 6,531
-17.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.94 ZMW 177
$8.20 COP 26.1K
9.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 ZMW 28.88
$1.27 COP 4,046
14.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$6,225 ZMW 123.4K
$26.8K COP 85.3M
-76.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.8K ZMW 768.5K
$34.4K COP 109.6M
12.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zambia
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.7 ZMW 1,778
$162 COP 516.9K
-44.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.95 ZMW 217
$13.12 COP 41.8K
-16.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.9 ZMW 1,169
$28.09 COP 89.5K
109.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zambia
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.3 ZMW 998
$44.33 COP 141.2K
13.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.39 ZMW 325
$16.33 COP 52.0K
0.37%
Cinema Ticket
$6.80 ZMW 135
$6.09 COP 19.4K
11.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zambia
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$142 ZMW 2,821
$764 COP 2.4M
-81.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.8K ZMW 333.1K
$8,904 COP 28.4M
88.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zambia
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.56 ZMW 487
$85.0 COP 270.8K
-71.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.64 ZMW 290
$57.5 COP 183.2K
-74.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.2 ZMW 1,174
$132 COP 419.8K
-55.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.9 ZMW 1,505
$95.8 COP 305.1K
-20.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zambia
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$453 ZMW 8,980
$1,028 COP 3.3M
-55.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$174 ZMW 3,443
$604 COP 1.9M
-71.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,074 ZMW 21.3K
$1,802 COP 5.7M
-40.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$720 ZMW 14.3K
$993 COP 3.2M
-27.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,941 ZMW 78.1K
$3,921 COP 12.5M
0.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,414 ZMW 127.2K
$1,639 COP 5.2M
291.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zambia
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$428 ZMW 8,485
$626 COP 2.0M
-31.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
26.25
10.94
139.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zambia: October 4, 2026
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Zambia $240 26.5%
Medellin $288 18.3% 20.4% $49
Accommodation & Living
Zambia $174 19.2%
Medellin $604 38.3% 248% $431
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zambia $160 17.7%
Medellin $203 12.9% 27.5% $44
Eating Out
Zambia $123 13.7%
Medellin $166 10.6% 34.9% $43
Clothing & Footwear
Zambia $78 8.7%
Medellin $166 10.6% 112% $88
Getting Around
Zambia $65 7.2%
Medellin $91 5.8% 40.1% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Zambia $64 7.1%
Medellin $57 3.6% 11.6% $7.4
Groceries & Markets
Zambia $551 24%
Medellin $664 21.3% 20.5% $113
Accommodation & Living
Zambia $720 31.4%
Medellin $993 31.9% 37.9% $273
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zambia $170 7.4%
Medellin $217 7% 27% $46
Eating Out
Zambia $401 17.5%
Medellin $560 18% 39.7% $159
Clothing & Footwear
Zambia $174 7.6%
Medellin $370 11.9% 112% $196
Getting Around
Zambia $132 5.8%
Medellin $185 5.9% 39.7% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Zambia $144 6.3%
Medellin $129 4.2% 10.3% $15
Good to know
🇿🇲 Zambia
🇨🇴 Medellin
Weather
Population
19,610,769
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Zambia Medellin 11,680 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
- Zambia
- Medellin
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
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