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 $378 per month in Bahir Dar vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $562 per month in Bahir Dar vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $746 per month in Bahir Dar vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Bahir Dar is about 77% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Bahir Dar sits 72% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 ETB 577

$8.02 COP 25.0K

-55.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

Cappuccino

$0.97 ETB 156

$3.13 COP 9,767

-69.01%

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

$0.38 ETB 61.5

$1.91 COP 5,954

-80.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ETB 77.1

$1.51 COP 4,712

-68.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.78 ETB 125

$3.12 COP 9,747

-75.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 ETB 329

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-64.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 ETB 162

$1.44 COP 4,509

-29.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ETB 164

$2.49 COP 7,759

-59.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 159

$1.77 COP 5,535

-44.07%

Eggs

$1.71 ETB 274

$2.96 COP 9,235

-42.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.16 ETB 1,632

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-28.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 ETB 472

$4.14 COP 12.9K

-28.99%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 ETB 157

$1.61 COP 5,019

-39.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 ETB 326

$2.25 COP 7,007

-9.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.84 ETB 135

$2.25 COP 7,028

-62.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 ETB 103

$2.04 COP 6,375

-68.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 ETB 182

$1.54 COP 4,790

-26.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ETB 159

$1.17 COP 3,651

-15.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ETB 77.6

$1.31 COP 4,077

-63.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$4.06 ETB 653

$14.01 COP 43.7K

-71.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 ETB 131

$1.74 COP 5,439

-52.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ETB 312

$2.87 COP 8,956

-32.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 ETB 82.6

$2.19 COP 6,825

-76.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 ETB 328

$8.71 COP 27.2K

-76.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 ETB 157

$1.37 COP 4,260

-29.20%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

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

$101 ETB 16.3K

$177 COP 553.2K

-42.90%

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

$10.13 ETB 1,627

$13.88 COP 43.3K

-27.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.3 ETB 8,088

$44.88 COP 140.1K

12.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$59.2 ETB 9,512

$17.12 COP 53.4K

245.85%

Cinema Ticket

$5.98 ETB 960

$6.65 COP 20.7K

-10.08%

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

$49.53 ETB 7,957

$813 COP 2.5M

-93.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 ETB 8,077

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-43.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,990 ETB 319.7K

$4,183 COP 13.1M

-52.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,507 ETB 242.1K

$1,675 COP 5.2M

-10.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$199 ETB 32.0K

$678 COP 2.1M

-70.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Bahir Dar: September 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 240% 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 344% more than Bahir Dar, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $567 per month in Bahir Dar and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $378 in Bahir Dar and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 145% 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 $378, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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 $378 versus $1,681 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.