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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $445 per month in Bangui vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $694 per month in Bangui vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $942 per month in Bangui vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Bangui is about 56% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bangui and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Bangui 67% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 FCFA 1,001

$0.78 COP 2,781

128.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.49 FCFA 1,966

$1.68 COP 5,997

107.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.28 FCFA 2,977

$3.07 COP 11.0K

71.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$5.40 FCFA 3,043

$1.09 COP 3,906

395.41%

White Bread (500g)

$4.36 FCFA 2,462

$1.26 COP 4,508

246.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.30 FCFA 2,426

$1.38 COP 4,922

211.59%

Eggs

$5.33 FCFA 3,006

$2.19 COP 7,827

143.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.72 FCFA 4,920

$4.40 COP 15.7K

98.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.56 FCFA 4,829

$5.63 COP 20.1K

52.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.56 FCFA 2,006

$8.89 COP 31.8K

-59.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

Oranges (1kg)

$7.02 FCFA 3,956

$1.50 COP 5,374

368.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.44 FCFA 3,070

$1.38 COP 4,924

294.20%

Potato (1kg)

$4.47 FCFA 2,520

$1.15 COP 4,111

288.70%

Onion (1kg)

$6.31 FCFA 3,561

$1.16 COP 4,155

443.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.70 FCFA 1,522

$0.89 COP 3,182

203.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 FCFA 1,539

$0.84 COP 2,997

225.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 FCFA 2,440

$2.28 COP 8,145

89.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.14 FCFA 6,847

$10.64 COP 38.0K

14.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$6.08 FCFA 3,427

$1.20 COP 4,284

406.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 FCFA 2,480

$2.47 COP 8,824

78.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.69 FCFA 1,515

$0.95 COP 3,409

183.16%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,298 FCFA 732.2K

$476 COP 1.7M

172.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,680 FCFA 947.4K

$1,211 COP 4.3M

38.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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 Bangui: May 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,298 in Bangui versus $476 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 127%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $668 per month in Bangui and $1,519 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 $445 in Bangui and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 114% 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 $445, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.