Cost of Living Comparison Between Adama and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Adama and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,009 per month in Adama vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,695 per month in Adama vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,381 per month in Adama vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Adama is about 39% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Adama sits 27% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 ETB 486

$8.04 COP 24.8K

-62.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.82 ETB 6,722

$48.29 COP 148.6K

-13.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 ETB 815

$9.42 COP 29.0K

-46.18%

Cappuccino

$0.90 ETB 145

$2.94 COP 9,040

-69.39%

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

$0.58 ETB 93.2

$1.86 COP 5,735

-68.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ETB 46.06

$1.46 COP 4,479

-80.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.78 ETB 125

$3.21 COP 9,882

-75.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ETB 365

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-60.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 ETB 132

$1.44 COP 4,428

-43.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ETB 197

$2.40 COP 7,389

-49.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ETB 351

$1.70 COP 5,228

28.82%

Eggs

$1.79 ETB 288

$2.89 COP 8,896

-38.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 ETB 1,211

$10.06 COP 30.9K

-25.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.24 ETB 1,646

$9.97 COP 30.7K

2.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.34 ETB 1,502

$14.20 COP 43.7K

-34.23%

Apples (1kg)

$5.49 ETB 882

$3.98 COP 12.3K

37.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 ETB 109

$1.58 COP 4,878

-56.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 ETB 360

$2.15 COP 6,624

4.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.71 ETB 114

$2.30 COP 7,078

-69.13%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 ETB 73.6

$2.00 COP 6,169

-77.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ETB 175

$1.51 COP 4,646

-27.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ETB 110

$1.20 COP 3,701

-42.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ETB 92.1

$1.28 COP 3,946

-55.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.05 ETB 1,294

$3.84 COP 11.8K

109.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.73 ETB 921

$14.01 COP 43.1K

-59.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ETB 113

$1.71 COP 5,256

-59.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 ETB 203

$2.74 COP 8,440

-54.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 COP 3,834

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 239.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 ETB 208

$1.31 COP 4,016

-1.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ETB 43.18

$2.17 COP 6,680

-87.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 ETB 312

$8.29 COP 25.5K

-76.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 ETB 151

$1.36 COP 4,172

-30.88%

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

$54.0K ETB 8.7M

$27.5K COP 84.5M

96.67%

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

$54.7K ETB 8.8M

$36.5K COP 112.4M

49.74%

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

$203 ETB 32.6K

$169 COP 519.2K

20.31%

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

$7.20 ETB 1,158

$13.57 COP 41.8K

-46.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$212 ETB 34.0K

$28.32 COP 87.2K

647.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 140.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.0K

Cinema Ticket

$3.70 ETB 595

$6.65 COP 20.5K

-44.36%

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

$138 ETB 22.2K

$803 COP 2.5M

-82.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.8K ETB 4.9M

$9,190 COP 28.3M

234.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.04 ETB 5,312

$87.4 COP 268.8K

-62.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.0 ETB 11.4K

$59.4 COP 182.7K

19.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 ETB 12.7K

$139 COP 427.5K

-43.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.9 ETB 13.3K

$102 COP 314.0K

-18.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$350 ETB 56.3K

$1,071 COP 3.3M

-67.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 ETB 32.4K

$653 COP 2.0M

-69.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 ETB 158.4K

$1,925 COP 5.9M

-48.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$785 ETB 126.2K

$1,048 COP 3.2M

-25.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$102 ETB 16.3K

$655 COP 2.0M

-84.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.5

10.94

69.10%

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

Last update for Adama: September 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $350 in Adama versus $1,071 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 545% 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 $42.00 in Adama versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $300 – making Adama 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

Adama vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,009 in Adama, $1,641 in Medellin – roughly 63% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,513 per month in Adama and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Adama, 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 $42.00 in Adama and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 41% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Adama, where all-in costs run around $1,009, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Adama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,009 in Adama to $1,641 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Adama. 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.