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 $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $700 per month in Bangui vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $965 per month in Bangui vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Bangui is about 58% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bangui and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Bangui 67% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 FCFA 994

$0.77 COP 2,515

124.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 FCFA 1,992

$1.69 COP 5,487

105.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 FCFA 2,994

$3.17 COP 10.3K

64.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$5.39 FCFA 3,092

$1.05 COP 3,423

413.33%

White Bread (500g)

$4.35 FCFA 2,500

$1.30 COP 4,236

234.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.35 FCFA 2,497

$1.40 COP 4,544

210.71%

Eggs

$5.26 FCFA 3,018

$2.16 COP 7,046

143.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.70 FCFA 4,997

$4.39 COP 14.3K

98.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.77 FCFA 5,035

$5.88 COP 19.1K

49.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.60 FCFA 2,070

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-58.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

Oranges (1kg)

$6.97 FCFA 4,004

$1.53 COP 4,982

355.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.21 FCFA 2,993

$1.35 COP 4,410

285.93%

Potato (1kg)

$4.35 FCFA 2,496

$1.13 COP 3,674

284.96%

Onion (1kg)

$6.06 FCFA 3,482

$1.13 COP 3,692

436.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.73 FCFA 1,566

$0.85 COP 2,753

221.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.72 FCFA 1,561

$0.91 COP 2,975

198.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 FCFA 2,473

$2.34 COP 7,629

84.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.79 FCFA 6,770

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-4.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$6.09 FCFA 3,497

$1.20 COP 3,909

407.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 FCFA 2,553

$2.49 COP 8,104

78.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.67 FCFA 1,534

$0.99 COP 3,223

169.70%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,332 FCFA 764.6K

$477 COP 1.6M

179.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,685 FCFA 967.1K

$1,372 COP 4.5M

22.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,332 in Bangui versus $477 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 137%, 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 $653 per month in Bangui and $1,546 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 $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 108% 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 $1,031. 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.