Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Zanzibar and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $439 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $701 per month in Zanzibar vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $962 per month in Zanzibar vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Zanzibar is about 57% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Zanzibar and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Zanzibar 67% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.77 TZS 12.5K

$6.16 COP 20.0K

-22.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.31 TZS 58.5K

$32.60 COP 106.0K

-31.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.84 TZS 15.3K

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-20.44%

Cappuccino

$2.27 TZS 5,963

$1.72 COP 5,592

31.98%

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

$0.60 TZS 1,587

$1.05 COP 3,416

-42.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 TZS 880

$0.77 COP 2,511

-55.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 TZS 4,978

$1.69 COP 5,480

12.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 TZS 7,051

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-15.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 TZS 4,452

$1.05 COP 3,418

61.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 TZS 1,921

$1.30 COP 4,230

-43.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 TZS 2,292

$1.40 COP 4,538

-37.86%

Eggs

$2.87 TZS 7,534

$2.16 COP 7,037

32.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 TZS 6,194

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-59.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.76 TZS 12.5K

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-44.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 TZS 7,715

$2.28 COP 7,415

28.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 TZS 3,116

$1.11 COP 3,599

7.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.80 TZS 2,101

$1.53 COP 4,976

-47.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 TZS 1,471

$1.35 COP 4,405

-58.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 TZS 2,475

$1.13 COP 3,669

-16.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 TZS 3,946

$1.13 COP 3,687

32.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 TZS 2,068

$0.85 COP 2,749

-7.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 TZS 1,311

$0.91 COP 2,971

-45.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 TZS 5,289

$2.34 COP 7,619

-13.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.65 TZS 25.3K

$12.37 COP 40.2K

-21.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 TZS 4,690

$1.20 COP 3,904

49.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.31 TZS 3,438

$2.49 COP 8,094

-47.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 TZS 1,666

$0.84 COP 2,724

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 131.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,617

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,227

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 TZS 7,270

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-63.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 TZS 3,036

$0.99 COP 3,219

17.17%

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

$18.0K COP 58.6M

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

$26.6K COP 86.6M

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

$80.8 COP 262.7K

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

$10.36 TZS 27.2K

$9.95 COP 32.3K

4.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.93 TZS 60.2K

$24.18 COP 78.6K

-5.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.02 TZS 55.2K

$25.08 COP 81.5K

-16.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$9.71 TZS 25.5K

$3.98 COP 13.0K

143.97%

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

$305 COP 992.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.39 TZS 35.1K

$58.1 COP 189.0K

-76.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.69 TZS 46.4K

$32.20 COP 104.7K

-45.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.19 TZS 39.9K

$101 COP 327.5K

-84.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$13.73 TZS 36.0K

$108 COP 350.3K

-87.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 TZS 390.6K

$477 COP 1.5M

-68.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 TZS 266.1K

$376 COP 1.2M

-73.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 TZS 529.6K

$845 COP 2.7M

-76.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 TZS 392.5K

$730 COP 2.4M

-79.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$37.5K TZS 98.5M

$3,215 COP 10.5M

1067.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$11.5K TZS 30.1M

$1,372 COP 4.5M

737.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$316 TZS 829.5K

$617 COP 2.0M

-48.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-25.54%

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

Last update for Zanzibar: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $149 in Zanzibar versus $477 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 95% 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 $22.00 in Zanzibar versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $139 vs $193 – making Zanzibar 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

Zanzibar vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 135%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $659 per month in Zanzibar and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 39% 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 $22.00 in Zanzibar and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zanzibar, where all-in costs run around $439, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Zanzibar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zanzibar – 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 Zanzibar. 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.