Cost of Living Comparison Between Bata and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bata and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,686 per month in Bata vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,414 per month in Bata vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,142 per month in Bata vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Bata costs about 66% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Bata sits 25% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.45 FCFA 9,292

$5.95 COP 20.8K

176.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.3 FCFA 31.8K

$33.33 COP 116.3K

68.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$2.60 FCFA 1,467

$1.63 COP 5,687

59.51%

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

$1.04 FCFA 587

$1.09 COP 3,821

-4.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 FCFA 479

$0.73 COP 2,548

16.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 FCFA 2,033

$1.74 COP 6,065

106.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 FCFA 2,482

$3.23 COP 11.3K

35.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 FCFA 1,282

$1.05 COP 3,662

116.19%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 FCFA 1,944

$1.29 COP 4,515

166.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 FCFA 1,419

$1.32 COP 4,617

90.15%

Eggs

$2.10 FCFA 1,185

$2.27 COP 7,927

-7.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.56 FCFA 5,962

$4.35 COP 15.2K

142.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 FCFA 3,786

$5.88 COP 20.5K

13.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.14 FCFA 5,163

$8.61 COP 30.0K

6.16%

Apples (1kg)

$7.63 FCFA 4,308

$2.25 COP 7,844

239.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 FCFA 966

$1.07 COP 3,733

59.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.87 FCFA 3,882

$1.52 COP 5,322

351.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.96 FCFA 2,234

$1.42 COP 4,964

178.87%

Potato (1kg)

$3.02 FCFA 1,708

$1.17 COP 4,084

158.12%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 FCFA 1,783

$1.17 COP 4,077

170.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 FCFA 484

$0.89 COP 3,096

-3.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 FCFA 1,397

$0.90 COP 3,146

174.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.24 FCFA 2,959

$2.25 COP 7,837

132.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.05 FCFA 3,418

$11.04 COP 38.5K

-45.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.59 FCFA 2,026

$1.14 COP 3,977

214.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 FCFA 487

$1.41 COP 4,912

-39.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 FCFA 424

$1.90 COP 6,634

-60.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 FCFA 645

$1.01 COP 3,509

12.87%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$356 FCFA 201.2K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

325.67%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$207 FCFA 116.7K

$24.11 COP 84.1K

756.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$123 FCFA 69.6K

$25.31 COP 88.3K

387.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.1 FCFA 43.0K

$58.0 COP 202.6K

31.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$78.4 FCFA 44.3K

$32.56 COP 113.6K

140.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$165 FCFA 93.2K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

65.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$161 FCFA 91.0K

$109 COP 378.8K

48.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$398 FCFA 224.6K

$482 COP 1.7M

-17.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 FCFA 126.8K

$379 COP 1.3M

-40.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 FCFA 322.7K

$837 COP 2.9M

-31.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 FCFA 201.8K

$723 COP 2.5M

-50.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$795 FCFA 448.7K

$541 COP 1.9M

46.91%

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 Bata: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $398 in Bata versus $482 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 47% higher in Bata, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $56.0 in Bata versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $342 vs $190 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Bata vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bata costs about 66% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,529 per month in Bata and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, 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 $1,686 in Bata and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 80% more in Bata, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Bata at $1,686. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bata it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,017 versus $1,686 in Bata. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bata makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.