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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,078 per month in Adama vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,761 per month in Adama vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,443 per month in Adama vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Adama costs about 8% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Adama and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Adama 19% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 ETB 483

$5.91 COP 18.9K

-48.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.39 ETB 5,651

$32.96 COP 105.2K

7.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ETB 794

$7.43 COP 23.7K

-33.11%

Cappuccino

$1.25 ETB 199

$1.65 COP 5,276

-24.24%

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

$0.64 ETB 102

$1.10 COP 3,514

-41.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ETB 50.2

$0.78 COP 2,491

-60.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ETB 157

$1.72 COP 5,484

-43.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 ETB 469

$3.18 COP 10.1K

-7.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ETB 221

$1.10 COP 3,521

25.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ETB 213

$1.26 COP 4,015

5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ETB 343

$1.38 COP 4,407

55.80%

Eggs

$2.50 ETB 399

$2.18 COP 6,950

14.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.94 ETB 1,109

$4.49 COP 14.3K

54.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.03 ETB 2,241

$5.79 COP 18.5K

142.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.32 ETB 2,128

$8.97 COP 28.6K

48.49%

Apples (1kg)

$6.70 ETB 1,070

$2.32 COP 7,405

188.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 163

$1.06 COP 3,397

-3.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ETB 359

$1.52 COP 4,838

48.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 ETB 154

$1.36 COP 4,327

-28.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 ETB 108

$1.13 COP 3,599

-39.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.84 ETB 294

$1.17 COP 3,738

57.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 ETB 102

$0.90 COP 2,876

-28.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ETB 102

$0.90 COP 2,861

-28.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.89 ETB 622

$2.23 COP 7,128

74.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.66 ETB 903

$12.12 COP 38.7K

-53.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 ETB 160

$1.19 COP 3,793

-15.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ETB 291

$2.48 COP 7,920

-26.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ETB 240

$1.42 COP 4,518

5.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.69

$1.95 COP 6,223

-85.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ETB 315

$7.89 COP 25.2K

-75.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ETB 206

$0.99 COP 3,160

30.30%

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

$54.7K ETB 8.7M

$17.6K COP 56.2M

210.85%

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

$53.5K ETB 8.5M

$26.8K COP 85.5M

99.52%

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

$158 ETB 25.3K

$83.0 COP 264.9K

90.69%

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

$12.11 ETB 1,934

$9.70 COP 30.9K

24.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$132 ETB 21.1K

$23.52 COP 75.0K

461.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$5.64 ETB 900

$3.95 COP 12.6K

42.78%

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

$81.5 ETB 13.0K

$316 COP 1.0M

-74.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.5K ETB 6.5M

$5,975 COP 19.1M

578.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.27 ETB 7,549

$60.0 COP 191.4K

-21.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.1 ETB 12.2K

$31.82 COP 101.5K

139.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.8 ETB 14.8K

$102 COP 324.4K

-8.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 ETB 18.6K

$107 COP 342.8K

8.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 ETB 78.9K

$475 COP 1.5M

4.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 ETB 48.6K

$374 COP 1.2M

-18.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$988 ETB 157.7K

$849 COP 2.7M

16.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$794 ETB 126.8K

$719 COP 2.3M

10.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$101 ETB 16.2K

$624 COP 2.0M

-83.75%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $494 in Adama versus $475 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 515% 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 $35.00 in Adama versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $193 – 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: $1,078 in Adama, $1,003 in Medellin – roughly 8% apart. Adama costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,617 per month in Adama and $1,504 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 $35.00 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 38% 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 $1,003, than in Adama at $1,078. 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 $1,003 in Medellin to $1,078 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.