🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $987 in Bafoussam versus $1,687 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,675 in Bafoussam versus $2,535 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,363 in Bafoussam versus $3,383 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Bafoussam costs roughly 41% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bafoussam is 28% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.50FCFA 2,525
$7.89COP 24.2K
-42.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122FCFA 68.2K
$44.53COP 136.5K
173.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.13FCFA 3,999
$9.29COP 28.5K
-23.25%
Cappuccino
$2.23FCFA 1,249
$2.90COP 8,874
-23.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71FCFA 959
$1.81COP 5,541
-5.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86FCFA 483
$1.55COP 4,741
-44.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.25FCFA 703
$3.25COP 9,962
-61.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59FCFA 1,453
$5.88COP 18.0K
-55.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.79FCFA 1,562
$1.38COP 4,230
102.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42FCFA 233
$2.45COP 7,517
-82.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23FCFA 1,250
$1.51COP 4,617
47.68%
Eggs
$1.98FCFA 1,112
$2.78COP 8,516
-28.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$23.15FCFA 13.0K
$9.05COP 27.7K
155.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.74FCFA 4,341
$10.65COP 32.6K
-27.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.40FCFA 3,590
$14.63COP 44.8K
-56.25%
Apples(1kg)
$4.92FCFA 2,759
$3.97COP 12.2K
23.93%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07FCFA 1,161
$1.38COP 4,219
50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.06FCFA 1,158
$2.30COP 7,056
-10.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37FCFA 767
$2.02COP 6,185
-32.18%
Potato(1kg)
$3.32FCFA 1,862
$2.09COP 6,390
58.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17FCFA 1,216
$1.63COP 4,996
33.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.79FCFA 445
$1.08COP 3,313
-26.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64FCFA 357
$1.25COP 3,843
-48.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.56FCFA 1,998
$4.03COP 12.4K
-11.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.09FCFA 5,099
$13.47COP 41.3K
-32.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46FCFA 821
$1.60COP 4,904
-8.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87FCFA 1,046
$3.00COP 9,189
-37.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.18COP 3,611
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$79.9COP 244.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.63FCFA 355
$1.61COP 4,920
-60.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.86FCFA 481
$2.13COP 6,533
-59.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.44FCFA 4,734
$8.52COP 26.1K
-0.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49FCFA 838
$1.35COP 4,142
10.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3KFCFA 17.6M
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
10.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.9KFCFA 8.9M
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
-55.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$167FCFA 93.7K
$151COP 463.8K
10.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.00FCFA 14.6K
$13.10COP 40.1K
98.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$181FCFA 101.4K
$32.30COP 99.0K
460.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$46.33COP 141.9K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.26COP 52.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.67FCFA 4,862
$6.43COP 19.7K
34.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$536FCFA 300.8K
$835COP 2.6M
-35.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,523FCFA 2.0M
$8,887COP 27.2M
-60.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.5FCFA 46.2K
$89.3COP 273.7K
-7.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.0FCFA 39.2K
$55.3COP 169.5K
26.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$144FCFA 80.9K
$137COP 418.5K
5.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153FCFA 86.1K
$109COP 335.1K
40.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$952COP 2.9M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$668COP 2.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,020COP 6.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,148COP 3.5M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,696COP 11.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,586COP 4.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$625COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19.04
10.43
82.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bafoussam: August 15, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $122 in Bafoussam vs $45.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $283 vs $297, with Bafoussam cheaper for home cooking.
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
Bafoussam vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bafoussam or Medellin?
Bafoussam wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bafoussam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bafoussam and in Medellin?
You'd need roughly $1,480 in Bafoussam and $2,530 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do childcare costs compare in Bafoussam and in Medellin?
Childcare runs $536 in Bafoussam versus $835 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Bafoussam and in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Bafoussam – a meal for two runs $122 versus $45.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bafoussam or in Medellin?
At $987 in Bafoussam versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bafoussam but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bafoussam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bafoussam or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bafoussam delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $987 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bafoussam hard to pass up.
How safe is Bafoussam compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Bafoussam and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bafoussam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.