Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahir Dar and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahir Dar and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $368 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $566 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $765 per month in Bahir Dar vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Bahir Dar is about 64% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bahir Dar and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Bahir Dar 73% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.46 ETB 541

$5.92 COP 21.4K

-41.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

Cappuccino

$1.02 ETB 159

$1.70 COP 6,140

-40.00%

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

$0.41 ETB 64.4

$1.10 COP 3,966

-62.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 80.7

$0.72 COP 2,605

-27.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.78 ETB 122

$1.67 COP 6,022

-53.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 ETB 315

$3.10 COP 11.2K

-35.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 ETB 153

$1.06 COP 3,809

-7.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ETB 152

$1.25 COP 4,497

-22.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 154

$1.39 COP 5,022

-28.78%

Eggs

$1.78 ETB 279

$2.26 COP 8,168

-21.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.11 ETB 1,580

$8.83 COP 31.9K

14.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 ETB 478

$2.24 COP 8,099

36.61%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 154

$1.08 COP 3,882

-8.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ETB 318

$1.53 COP 5,522

32.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 ETB 123

$1.37 COP 4,950

-42.34%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 ETB 104

$1.13 COP 4,078

-41.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 ETB 184

$1.12 COP 4,036

5.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ETB 152

$0.85 COP 3,057

14.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ETB 80.8

$0.91 COP 3,281

-42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

Wine (Bottle)

$4.01 ETB 627

$11.13 COP 40.2K

-63.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ETB 128

$1.19 COP 4,309

-31.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ETB 322

$2.37 COP 8,553

-13.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 ETB 80.3

$1.91 COP 6,901

-73.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 ETB 318

$8.02 COP 28.9K

-74.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 ETB 158

$0.94 COP 3,385

7.45%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

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

$99.3 ETB 15.5K

$84.0 COP 303.1K

18.23%

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

$10.15 ETB 1,587

$9.60 COP 34.7K

5.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.85 ETB 7,792

$25.88 COP 93.4K

92.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$58.9 ETB 9,205

$19.04 COP 68.7K

209.35%

Cinema Ticket

$6.06 ETB 947

$3.92 COP 14.1K

54.59%

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

$50.2 ETB 7,845

$306 COP 1.1M

-83.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.56 ETB 7,746

$57.9 COP 209.1K

-14.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,988 ETB 310.7K

$2,925 COP 10.6M

-32.04%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,511 ETB 236.2K

$1,407 COP 5.1M

7.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$199 ETB 31.2K

$546 COP 2.0M

-63.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Bahir Dar: April 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 174% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Bahir Dar vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 181% more than Bahir Dar, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $551 per month in Bahir Dar and $1,550 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $368 in Bahir Dar and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 52% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bahir Dar, where all-in costs run around $368, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Bahir Dar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bahir Dar costs $368 versus $1,034 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bahir Dar. 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.