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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $335 per month in Bamenda vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $525 per month in Bamenda vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $715 per month in Bamenda vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Bamenda is about 68% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bamenda and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Bamenda 75% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 FCFA 963

$5.92 COP 21.5K

-70.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 119.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.24 FCFA 3,495

$7.20 COP 26.2K

-13.33%

Cappuccino

$0.87 FCFA 485

$1.70 COP 6,186

-48.82%

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

$0.52 FCFA 291

$1.10 COP 3,996

-52.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 FCFA 187

$0.72 COP 2,625

-54.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.26 FCFA 708

$1.67 COP 6,067

-24.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 FCFA 977

$3.10 COP 11.3K

-43.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.69 FCFA 1,508

$1.06 COP 3,837

153.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 FCFA 364

$1.25 COP 4,531

-48.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 FCFA 534

$1.39 COP 5,060

-31.65%

Eggs

$3.15 FCFA 1,764

$2.26 COP 8,229

39.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 FCFA 2,476

$5.84 COP 21.2K

-24.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.31 FCFA 2,973

$8.83 COP 32.1K

-39.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 FCFA 1,474

$2.24 COP 8,159

17.41%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 FCFA 511

$1.08 COP 3,911

-15.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 FCFA 410

$1.53 COP 5,563

-52.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 FCFA 502

$1.37 COP 4,987

-34.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.42 FCFA 796

$1.13 COP 4,109

25.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 FCFA 585

$1.12 COP 4,067

-7.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 FCFA 312

$0.85 COP 3,080

-34.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 FCFA 389

$0.91 COP 3,305

-24.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.39 FCFA 776

$2.33 COP 8,477

-40.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.31 FCFA 4,096

$11.13 COP 40.5K

-34.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 FCFA 746

$1.19 COP 4,342

11.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 FCFA 766

$2.37 COP 8,617

-42.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.81 FCFA 1,012

$0.79 COP 2,859

129.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 149.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.43 FCFA 241

$1.44 COP 5,223

-70.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 FCFA 172

$1.91 COP 6,952

-83.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.11 FCFA 3,423

$8.02 COP 29.2K

-23.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 FCFA 741

$0.94 COP 3,410

40.43%

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

$17.9K COP 65.2M

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

$26.8K COP 97.4M

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

$84.0 COP 305.4K

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

$17.74 FCFA 9,936

$9.60 COP 34.9K

84.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.53 FCFA 19.3K

$24.16 COP 87.9K

42.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.91 FCFA 4,990

$25.88 COP 94.1K

-65.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 69.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.2K

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

$306 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.85 FCFA 15.0K

$57.9 COP 210.6K

-53.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 115.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.64 FCFA 24.5K

$99.9 COP 363.3K

-56.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.3 FCFA 34.9K

$107 COP 389.7K

-41.84%

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)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$107 FCFA 60.0K

$546 COP 2.0M

-80.37%

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 Bamenda: April 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 410% 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: $335 in Bamenda, $1,034 in Medellin – roughly 208% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $503 per month in Bamenda 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 $335 in Bamenda and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 23% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bamenda, where all-in costs run around $335, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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 $335 in Bamenda to $1,034 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.