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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,113 per month in Adama vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,782 per month in Adama vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,451 per month in Adama vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Adama costs about 10% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Adama and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Adama 17% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.03 ETB 480

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-49.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.50 ETB 5,468

$33.33 COP 116.3K

3.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.10 ETB 808

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-29.46%

Cappuccino

$1.27 ETB 202

$1.63 COP 5,687

-22.09%

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

$0.69 ETB 109

$1.09 COP 3,821

-36.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ETB 49.29

$0.73 COP 2,548

-57.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ETB 156

$1.74 COP 6,065

-43.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 ETB 478

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-6.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 ETB 231

$1.05 COP 3,662

38.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 ETB 214

$1.29 COP 4,515

4.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 ETB 336

$1.32 COP 4,617

60.61%

Eggs

$2.41 ETB 382

$2.27 COP 7,927

6.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.22 ETB 1,145

$4.35 COP 15.2K

65.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.10 ETB 2,235

$5.88 COP 20.5K

139.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.43 ETB 2,129

$8.61 COP 30.0K

55.98%

Apples (1kg)

$6.75 ETB 1,070

$2.25 COP 7,844

200.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.96 ETB 152

$1.07 COP 3,733

-10.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ETB 347

$1.52 COP 5,322

44.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 ETB 156

$1.42 COP 4,964

-30.99%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 ETB 107

$1.17 COP 4,084

-42.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 ETB 300

$1.17 COP 4,077

61.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ETB 109

$0.89 COP 3,096

-22.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ETB 99.8

$0.90 COP 3,146

-30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.93 ETB 623

$2.25 COP 7,837

74.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.53 ETB 876

$11.04 COP 38.5K

-49.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 ETB 165

$1.14 COP 3,977

-8.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ETB 300

$2.38 COP 8,301

-20.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 ETB 228

$1.41 COP 4,912

2.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.09

$1.90 COP 6,634

-84.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 ETB 324

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-73.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ETB 205

$1.01 COP 3,509

27.72%

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

$54.7K ETB 8.7M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

210.95%

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

$54.7K ETB 8.7M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

106.60%

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

$162 ETB 25.6K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

93.20%

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

$11.84 ETB 1,877

$9.45 COP 33.0K

25.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$129 ETB 20.4K

$24.11 COP 84.1K

433.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$5.63 ETB 893

$4.10 COP 14.3K

37.32%

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

$80.5 ETB 12.8K

$312 COP 1.1M

-74.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.5K ETB 6.4M

$5,993 COP 20.9M

575.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.44 ETB 7,361

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-19.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$75.1 ETB 11.9K

$32.56 COP 113.6K

130.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.3 ETB 14.6K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-7.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 ETB 17.8K

$109 COP 378.8K

3.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$509 ETB 80.6K

$482 COP 1.7M

5.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 ETB 47.9K

$379 COP 1.3M

-20.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,005 ETB 159.3K

$837 COP 2.9M

19.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$791 ETB 125.4K

$723 COP 2.5M

9.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$101 ETB 15.9K

$541 COP 1.9M

-81.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

26.58%

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

Last update for Adama: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $509 in Adama versus $482 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 438% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Adama versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $190 – making Medellin 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: $1,113 in Adama, $1,017 in Medellin – roughly 10% apart. Adama costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,670 per month in Adama and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, 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 $34.00 in Adama and $33.00 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 Adama, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Adama at $1,113. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Adama 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 $1,017 in Medellin to $1,113 in Adama. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Adama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.