Cost of Living Comparison Between Bangui and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bangui and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $436 per month in Bangui vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $699 per month in Bangui vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $963 per month in Bangui vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Bangui is about 73% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Bangui sits 68% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 COP 24.8K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.29 COP 148.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 COP 29.1K

Cappuccino

$2.94 COP 9,056

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

$1.86 COP 5,745

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 FCFA 1,010

$1.46 COP 4,487

22.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 FCFA 1,968

$3.21 COP 9,899

8.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.21 FCFA 2,943

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-8.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$5.19 FCFA 2,931

$1.44 COP 4,436

260.42%

White Bread (500g)

$4.50 FCFA 2,544

$2.40 COP 7,401

87.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.53 FCFA 2,557

$1.70 COP 5,237

166.47%

Eggs

$5.46 FCFA 3,086

$2.89 COP 8,911

88.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.75 FCFA 4,946

$10.06 COP 31.0K

-13.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.63 FCFA 4,873

$9.97 COP 30.7K

-13.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.57 FCFA 2,019

$14.20 COP 43.8K

-74.86%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 COP 12.3K

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 COP 4,886

Oranges (1kg)

$7.17 FCFA 4,050

$2.15 COP 6,635

233.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.43 FCFA 3,068

$2.30 COP 7,090

136.09%

Potato (1kg)

$4.51 FCFA 2,547

$2.00 COP 6,179

125.50%

Onion (1kg)

$6.19 FCFA 3,497

$1.51 COP 4,654

309.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.58 FCFA 1,460

$1.20 COP 3,707

115.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 FCFA 1,541

$1.28 COP 3,953

113.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.54 FCFA 2,564

$3.84 COP 11.8K

18.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.14 FCFA 6,857

$14.01 COP 43.2K

-13.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$6.28 FCFA 3,550

$1.71 COP 5,265

267.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 FCFA 2,482

$2.74 COP 8,454

60.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 COP 3,840

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 240.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,023

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 COP 6,692

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.29 COP 25.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.67 FCFA 1,510

$1.36 COP 4,179

96.32%

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

$27.5K COP 84.7M

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

$36.5K COP 112.6M

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

$169 COP 520.1K

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

$13.57 COP 41.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.32 COP 87.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 140.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.1K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.5K

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

$803 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,190 COP 28.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.4 COP 269.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.4 COP 183.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 COP 428.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 314.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,419 FCFA 802.1K

$1,071 COP 3.3M

32.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,708 FCFA 964.8K

$1,697 COP 5.2M

0.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$655 COP 2.0M

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 Bangui: September 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,419 in Bangui versus $1,071 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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

Bangui vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 277%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $654 per month in Bangui and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bangui, 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 $436 in Bangui and $1,641 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 35% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bangui, where all-in costs run around $436, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Bangui it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bangui – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Bangui. 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.