Cost of Living Comparison Between Bamenda and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bamenda and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $696 per month in Bamenda vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $934 per month in Bamenda vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,171 per month in Bamenda vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Bamenda is about 59% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Bamenda sits 49% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 FCFA 3,077

$8.02 COP 25.0K

-32.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.47 FCFA 3,694

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-34.58%

Cappuccino

$1.15 FCFA 658

$3.13 COP 9,767

-63.26%

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

$1.72 FCFA 983

$1.91 COP 5,954

-9.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 FCFA 378

$1.51 COP 4,712

-56.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.61 FCFA 917

$3.12 COP 9,747

-48.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 FCFA 988

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-69.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.97 FCFA 1,699

$1.44 COP 4,509

106.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 FCFA 481

$2.49 COP 7,759

-66.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 FCFA 1,193

$1.77 COP 5,535

18.08%

Eggs

$2.98 FCFA 1,706

$2.96 COP 9,235

0.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.73 FCFA 2,131

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-63.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 FCFA 2,804

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-65.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.58 FCFA 1,473

$4.14 COP 12.9K

-37.68%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 FCFA 521

$1.61 COP 5,019

-43.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 FCFA 686

$2.25 COP 7,007

-46.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 FCFA 786

$2.25 COP 7,028

-38.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 FCFA 1,764

$2.04 COP 6,375

51.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.55 FCFA 885

$1.54 COP 4,790

0.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 FCFA 476

$1.17 COP 3,651

-29.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 FCFA 419

$1.31 COP 4,077

-44.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 FCFA 1,029

$3.90 COP 12.2K

-53.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.08 FCFA 5,762

$14.01 COP 43.7K

-28.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 FCFA 826

$1.74 COP 5,439

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 FCFA 1,020

$2.87 COP 8,956

-37.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.34 FCFA 766

$1.22 COP 3,792

9.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.33 FCFA 5,334

$80.5 COP 251.1K

-88.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 FCFA 341

$1.31 COP 4,084

-54.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 FCFA 346

$2.19 COP 6,825

-72.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.63 FCFA 3,220

$8.71 COP 27.2K

-35.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 FCFA 827

$1.37 COP 4,260

5.84%

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)

$178 FCFA 101.6K

$177 COP 553.2K

0.26%

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

$30.39 FCFA 17.4K

$13.88 COP 43.3K

118.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.88 FCFA 21.6K

$29.72 COP 92.8K

27.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.96 FCFA 10.3K

$44.88 COP 140.1K

-59.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$8.96 FCFA 5,118

$6.65 COP 20.7K

34.74%

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

$179 FCFA 102.1K

$813 COP 2.5M

-78.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.27 FCFA 15.0K

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-70.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.46 FCFA 24.8K

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-26.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.75 FCFA 27.3K

$138 COP 431.2K

-65.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.7 FCFA 30.7K

$102 COP 318.7K

-47.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$69.6 FCFA 39.7K

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-93.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$35.89 FCFA 20.5K

$663 COP 2.1M

-94.59%

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)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$97.5 FCFA 55.7K

$678 COP 2.1M

-85.61%

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 Bamenda: September 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $69.6 in Bamenda versus $1,062 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 595% 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

Bamenda vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $696 in Bamenda, $1,681 in Medellin – roughly 142% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,044 per month in Bamenda and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bamenda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $696 in Bamenda and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $179 per month in Bamenda and $813 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bamenda, where all-in costs run around $696, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Bamenda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin 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 $696 in Bamenda to $1,681 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Bamenda. 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.