🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $964 in Bafoussam versus $1,555 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,669 in Bafoussam versus $2,314 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,374 in Bafoussam versus $3,072 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Bafoussam costs roughly 38% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bafoussam is 29% below, Medellin is 15% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.28FCFA 2,493
$7.59COP 24.7K
-43.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120FCFA 70.1K
$44.78COP 145.7K
168.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.81FCFA 3,968
$9.24COP 30.1K
-26.30%
Cappuccino
$2.17FCFA 1,263
$2.95COP 9,591
-26.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65FCFA 958
$1.80COP 5,861
-8.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79FCFA 462
$1.35COP 4,391
-41.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.24FCFA 723
$2.93COP 9,544
-57.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55FCFA 1,484
$5.46COP 17.8K
-53.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.95FCFA 1,715
$1.43COP 4,663
106.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.43FCFA 251
$2.39COP 7,785
-82.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18FCFA 1,271
$1.60COP 5,209
36.25%
Eggs
$1.95FCFA 1,135
$2.88COP 9,364
-32.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$22.41FCFA 13.0K
$9.71COP 31.6K
130.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.90FCFA 4,603
$9.44COP 30.7K
-16.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.28FCFA 3,656
$13.24COP 43.1K
-52.57%
Apples(1kg)
$4.67FCFA 2,718
$3.75COP 12.2K
24.53%
Banana(1kg)
$2.10FCFA 1,225
$1.45COP 4,703
44.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03FCFA 1,180
$2.10COP 6,829
-3.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.39FCFA 810
$2.13COP 6,930
-34.74%
Potato(1kg)
$3.38FCFA 1,966
$1.92COP 6,259
76.04%
Onion(1kg)
$2.15FCFA 1,252
$1.53COP 4,984
40.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77FCFA 449
$1.09COP 3,549
-29.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63FCFA 370
$1.18COP 3,843
-46.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.65FCFA 1,543
$3.79COP 12.3K
-30.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.81FCFA 5,130
$13.16COP 42.8K
-33.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51FCFA 878
$1.64COP 5,337
-7.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74FCFA 1,015
$2.28COP 7,410
-23.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.18COP 3,825
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$73.6COP 239.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.60FCFA 348
$1.28COP 4,157
-53.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.91FCFA 531
$1.98COP 6,434
-54.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.40FCFA 4,893
$7.89COP 25.7K
6.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44FCFA 839
$1.29COP 4,211
11.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0KFCFA 17.5M
$26.8KCOP 87.2M
11.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.7KFCFA 9.1M
$34.7KCOP 112.9M
-54.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$165FCFA 95.9K
$158COP 513.6K
4.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.17FCFA 15.2K
$13.39COP 43.6K
95.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$181FCFA 105.7K
$27.28COP 88.8K
565.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$44.15COP 143.7K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.99COP 52.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.78FCFA 5,112
$6.39COP 20.8K
37.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$521FCFA 303.7K
$777COP 2.5M
-32.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,410FCFA 2.0M
$8,800COP 28.6M
-61.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.6FCFA 47.5K
$82.7COP 269.2K
-1.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.4FCFA 39.8K
$56.1COP 182.6K
21.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$140FCFA 81.5K
$131COP 425.7K
6.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$151FCFA 87.9K
$95.9COP 312.1K
57.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,006COP 3.3M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$627COP 2.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,826COP 5.9M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$969COP 3.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,907COP 12.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,576COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bafoussam
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$620COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
19.04
10.94
74.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bafoussam: September 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $120 in Bafoussam vs $45.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $281 vs $285, 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 61% 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 $1,446 in Bafoussam and $2,333 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 $521 in Bafoussam versus $777 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 $120 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 $964 in Bafoussam versus $1,555 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 $964 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 61% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.