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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,488 per month in Bata vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,175 per month in Bata vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,861 per month in Bata vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Bata is about 11% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Bata and Medellin sit above the global median – Bata by 9%, Medellin by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.13 FCFA 10.9K

$8.02 COP 25.0K

138.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.52 FCFA 24.9K

$47.87 COP 149.4K

-9.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

Cappuccino

$2.61 FCFA 1,493

$3.13 COP 9,767

-16.61%

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

$1.44 FCFA 825

$1.91 COP 5,954

-24.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 FCFA 521

$1.51 COP 4,712

-39.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.42 FCFA 1,952

$3.12 COP 9,747

9.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 FCFA 2,455

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-25.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 FCFA 1,028

$1.44 COP 4,509

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 FCFA 1,856

$2.49 COP 7,759

30.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 FCFA 917

$1.77 COP 5,535

-9.60%

Eggs

$2.05 FCFA 1,172

$2.96 COP 9,235

-30.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.44 FCFA 5,964

$10.07 COP 31.4K

3.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.94 FCFA 5,106

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-11.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.61 FCFA 6,065

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-25.80%

Apples (1kg)

$10.46 FCFA 5,978

$4.14 COP 12.9K

152.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 FCFA 1,013

$1.61 COP 5,019

9.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$8.83 FCFA 5,048

$2.25 COP 7,007

292.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.55 FCFA 2,029

$2.25 COP 7,028

57.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 FCFA 1,489

$2.04 COP 6,375

27.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 FCFA 1,500

$1.54 COP 4,790

70.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 FCFA 484

$1.17 COP 3,651

-27.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 FCFA 768

$1.31 COP 4,077

2.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.41 FCFA 3,090

$3.90 COP 12.2K

38.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.14 FCFA 3,506

$14.01 COP 43.7K

-56.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 FCFA 1,966

$1.74 COP 5,439

97.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 FCFA 483

$1.31 COP 4,084

-35.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 FCFA 526

$2.19 COP 6,825

-57.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 FCFA 642

$1.37 COP 4,260

-18.25%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

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

$359 FCFA 204.9K

$177 COP 553.2K

102.23%

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.7 FCFA 30.7K

$29.72 COP 92.8K

80.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 FCFA 39.7K

$44.88 COP 140.1K

54.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

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

$813 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.2 FCFA 44.7K

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-12.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.4 FCFA 40.2K

$59.0 COP 184.0K

19.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$152 FCFA 87.0K

$138 COP 431.2K

10.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 FCFA 80.7K

$102 COP 318.7K

38.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$397 FCFA 226.9K

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-62.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$219 FCFA 125.4K

$663 COP 2.1M

-66.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$578 FCFA 330.5K

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-69.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$358 FCFA 204.7K

$1,027 COP 3.2M

-65.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$788 FCFA 450.3K

$678 COP 2.1M

16.29%

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 Bata: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $397 in Bata versus $1,062 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 16% higher in Bata, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Bata versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $351 in Bata vs $305 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Medellin costs about 13% more than Bata, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,233 per month in Bata and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bata, 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 $1,488 in Bata and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bata, where all-in costs run around $1,488, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Bata it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bata costs $1,488 versus $1,681 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Bata. 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.