Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimba and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Zimba and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $113 per month in Zimba vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $176 per month in Zimba vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $239 per month in Zimba vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Zimba is about 89% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Zimba and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Zimba 92% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.48 ZMW 44.24

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-65.02%

Cappuccino

$1.25 ZMW 22.33

$1.71 COP 6,115

-26.90%

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

$0.63 ZMW 11.33

$1.10 COP 3,924

-42.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ZMW 5.40

$0.78 COP 2,781

-61.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.60 ZMW 10.70

$1.68 COP 5,997

-64.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 ZMW 14.27

$3.07 COP 11.0K

-73.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 ZMW 15.21

$1.26 COP 4,508

-32.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 ZMW 22.73

$1.38 COP 4,922

-7.97%

Eggs

$1.11 ZMW 19.85

$2.19 COP 7,827

-49.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.88 ZMW 51.4

$8.89 COP 31.8K

-67.60%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 ZMW 26.34

$2.34 COP 8,349

-36.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 ZMW 22.50

$1.06 COP 3,777

18.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.42 ZMW 43.16

$1.50 COP 5,374

61.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 ZMW 10.68

$1.38 COP 4,924

-56.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 ZMW 10.89

$1.16 COP 4,155

-47.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 ZMW 13.18

$0.89 COP 3,182

-16.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ZMW 6.97

$0.84 COP 2,997

-53.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

Wine (Bottle)

$6.58 ZMW 117

$10.64 COP 38.0K

-38.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ZMW 10.82

$1.20 COP 4,284

-49.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 ZMW 14.64

$2.47 COP 8,824

-66.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

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)

$512 COP 1.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Zimba: May 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

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

Zimba vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 794%, 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 $170 per month in Zimba and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $113 in Zimba and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 133% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zimba, where all-in costs run around $113, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Zimba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zimba – 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 Zimba. 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.