Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Abomey-Calavi and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Abomey-Calavi: $707 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $10,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Abomey-Calavi
🇧🇯 Benin
$707
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Abomey-Calavi and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Abomey-Calavi and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $707 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $1,614 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Abomey-Calavi $707
  • Medellin $1,614

A couple spends around $1,109 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $2,402 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Abomey-Calavi $1,109
  • Medellin $2,402

A family of three spends $1,511 per month in Abomey-Calavi vs $3,190 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Abomey-Calavi $1,511
  • Medellin $3,190

Abomey-Calavi is about 56% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Abomey-Calavi sits 48% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abomey-Calavi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.51 F CFA 3,211
$7.93 COP 25.2K
-30.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.42 F CFA 14.8K
$46.13 COP 146.3K
-44.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.02 F CFA 4,679
$9.50 COP 30.1K
-15.58%
Cappuccino
$4.74 F CFA 2,763
$3.11 COP 9,866
52.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 F CFA 663
$1.83 COP 5,800
-37.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 F CFA 1,007
$1.38 COP 4,360
25.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 F CFA 983
$3.05 COP 9,672
-44.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.17 F CFA 3,016
$5.50 COP 17.4K
-6.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abomey-Calavi
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.09 F CFA 1,219
$1.45 COP 4,600
44.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.25 F CFA 145
$2.36 COP 7,496
-89.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.98 F CFA 1,157
$1.68 COP 5,328
17.86%
Eggs
$1.92 F CFA 1,119
$2.86 COP 9,077
-32.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.45 F CFA 2,013
$10.19 COP 32.3K
-66.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.80 F CFA 2,215
$9.53 COP 30.2K
-60.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.11 F CFA 3,562
$14.04 COP 44.5K
-56.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.10 F CFA 1,227
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-48.40%
Banana (1kg)
$0.87 F CFA 507
$1.50 COP 4,742
-42.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.66 F CFA 387
$2.17 COP 6,891
-69.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 F CFA 1,156
$2.31 COP 7,310
-14.29%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 F CFA 541
$1.93 COP 6,113
-51.81%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 F CFA 435
$1.64 COP 5,196
-54.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 F CFA 403
$1.13 COP 3,571
-38.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 F CFA 477
$1.25 COP 3,954
-34.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$0.41 F CFA 241
$3.99 COP 12.6K
-89.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.72 F CFA 6,254
$13.35 COP 42.3K
-19.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 F CFA 530
$1.70 COP 5,384
-46.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 F CFA 662
$2.37 COP 7,525
-51.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Abomey-Calavi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.21 COP 3,827
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.24 F CFA 4,224
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-90.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.71 F CFA 997
$1.32 COP 4,179
29.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 F CFA 975
$2.14 COP 6,774
-21.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.47 COP 26.8K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 F CFA 668
$1.30 COP 4,114
-12.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$28.0K COP 88.7M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$35.4K COP 112.3M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abomey-Calavi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 F CFA 69.8K
$172 COP 545.6K
-30.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.54 F CFA 11.4K
$13.37 COP 42.4K
46.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.0 F CFA 49.0K
$28.73 COP 91.1K
192.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abomey-Calavi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.85 F CFA 19.7K
$45.24 COP 143.5K
-25.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.08 F CFA 2,964
$17.04 COP 54.0K
-70.19%
Cinema Ticket
$6.06 F CFA 3,533
$6.28 COP 19.9K
-3.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abomey-Calavi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$770 COP 2.4M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$9,011 COP 28.6M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abomey-Calavi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.27 F CFA 10.1K
$86.4 COP 274.0K
-80.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.26 F CFA 4,818
$57.1 COP 181.1K
-85.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$25.09 F CFA 14.6K
$137 COP 432.9K
-81.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.75 F CFA 15.0K
$97.9 COP 310.4K
-73.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abomey-Calavi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$97.2 F CFA 56.7K
$1,055 COP 3.3M
-90.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$71.0 F CFA 41.4K
$616 COP 2.0M
-88.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$216 F CFA 125.7K
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-88.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$267 F CFA 155.8K
$1,023 COP 3.2M
-73.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,678 COP 5.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abomey-Calavi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$83.9 F CFA 48.9K
$652 COP 2.1M
-87.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
10.94
-

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

Last update for Abomey-Calavi: October 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abomey-Calavi
$223
Medellin
$214 4% $9
Groceries & Markets
Abomey-Calavi
$160
Medellin
$295 84% $135
Eating Out
Abomey-Calavi
$155
Medellin
$168 8.5% $13
Accommodation & Living
Abomey-Calavi
$71
Medellin
$616 768% $545
Sport & Entertainment
Abomey-Calavi
$46
Medellin
$58 25.8% $12
Clothing & Footwear
Abomey-Calavi
$34
Medellin
$170 395% $136
Getting Around
Abomey-Calavi
$17 *
Medellin
$93 439% $76

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $97.2 in Abomey-Calavi versus $1,055 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 678% 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 $25.00 in Abomey-Calavi versus $46.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $160 vs $295 – making Abomey-Calavi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇯 Abomey-Calavi
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
05:33 5:33 AM
23:33 11:33 PM
6 h behind Abomey-Calavi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
650,000
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to XOF – West African CFA Franc Converter

West African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 583 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.53 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Abomey-Calavi Medellin 8,610 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Abomey-Calavi
  • 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
Abomey-Calavi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Abomey-Calavi?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 128%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,061 per month in Abomey-Calavi and $2,421 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Abomey-Calavi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Abomey-Calavi and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $707 in Abomey-Calavi and $1,614 in Medellin. That's a gap of about 128%.
Is eating out cheaper in Abomey-Calavi or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Abomey-Calavi and $46.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Abomey-Calavi or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abomey-Calavi, where all-in costs run around $707, than in Medellin at $1,614. In Abomey-Calavi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Abomey-Calavi or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Abomey-Calavi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Abomey-Calavi. 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.

Abomey-Calavi vs other spots: cost of living compared

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