😐A single person spends $1,890 per month in Brazzaville vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,785 per month in Brazzaville vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,680 per month in Brazzaville vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Brazzaville costs about 12% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Brazzaville and Medellin sit above the global median – Brazzaville by 38%, Medellin by 23%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brazzaville
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.58FCFA 4,809
$7.89COP 24.2K
8.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.05FCFA 14.6K
$44.53COP 136.5K
-41.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.19FCFA 2,907
$9.29COP 28.5K
-44.13%
Cappuccino
$4.02FCFA 2,252
$2.90COP 8,874
38.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54FCFA 863
$1.81COP 5,541
-14.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54FCFA 862
$1.55COP 4,741
-0.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.66FCFA 3,172
$3.25COP 9,962
74.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86FCFA 2,166
$5.88COP 18.0K
-34.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brazzaville
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.31FCFA 1,295
$1.38COP 4,230
67.39%
White Bread(500g)
$5.06FCFA 2,839
$2.45COP 7,517
106.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.25FCFA 1,821
$1.51COP 4,617
115.23%
Eggs
$2.99FCFA 1,678
$2.78COP 8,516
7.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.87FCFA 3,855
$9.05COP 27.7K
-24.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.66FCFA 2,614
$10.65COP 32.6K
-56.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.59FCFA 4,819
$14.63COP 44.8K
-41.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.41FCFA 1,350
$3.97COP 12.2K
-39.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81FCFA 1,015
$1.38COP 4,219
31.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.76FCFA 2,107
$2.30COP 7,056
63.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63FCFA 1,476
$2.02COP 6,185
30.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82FCFA 1,021
$2.09COP 6,390
-12.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.26FCFA 708
$1.63COP 4,996
-22.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32FCFA 739
$1.08COP 3,313
22.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.25COP 3,843
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.34FCFA 1,873
$4.03COP 12.4K
-17.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.38FCFA 5,819
$13.47COP 41.3K
-22.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.60COP 4,904
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.00COP 9,189
-
🚌 Getting Around
Brazzaville
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25FCFA 140
$1.18COP 3,611
-78.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.75FCFA 13.3K
$79.9COP 244.9K
-70.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.81FCFA 1,014
$1.61COP 4,920
12.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09FCFA 610
$2.13COP 6,533
-48.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.14FCFA 4,006
$8.52COP 26.1K
-16.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32FCFA 740
$1.35COP 4,142
-2.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8KFCFA 16.2M
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
1.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KFCFA 15.4M
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
-23.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brazzaville
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$828FCFA 464.5K
$151COP 463.8K
447.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.01FCFA 9,539
$13.10COP 40.1K
29.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.07FCFA 24.7K
$32.30COP 99.0K
36.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brazzaville
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.43FCFA 14.8K
$46.33COP 141.9K
-42.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.23FCFA 7,982
$17.26COP 52.9K
-17.56%
Cinema Ticket
$5.68FCFA 3,186
$6.43COP 19.7K
-11.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brazzaville
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$52.4FCFA 29.4K
$835COP 2.6M
-93.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$8,887COP 27.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brazzaville
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.8FCFA 44.2K
$89.3COP 273.7K
-11.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$55.3COP 169.5K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$137COP 418.5K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$109COP 335.1K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brazzaville
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$557FCFA 312.2K
$952COP 2.9M
-41.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462FCFA 258.9K
$668COP 2.0M
-30.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,539FCFA 1.4M
$2,020COP 6.2M
25.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,504FCFA 843.3K
$1,148COP 3.5M
30.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,425FCFA 1.9M
$3,696COP 11.3M
-7.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,990FCFA 1.7M
$1,586COP 4.9M
88.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brazzaville
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$460FCFA 257.7K
$625COP 1.9M
-26.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.54
10.43
-37.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brazzaville: August 15, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $557 in Brazzaville versus $952 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 36% higher in Medellin, 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 $26.00 in Brazzaville versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $297 – making Brazzaville 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
Brazzaville vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brazzaville or Medellin?
Brazzaville costs about 12% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Brazzaville and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,835 per month in Brazzaville and $2,530 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Brazzaville or Medellin?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Brazzaville and in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Brazzaville and $45.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Brazzaville compared to Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,890 in Brazzaville and $1,687 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Brazzaville or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,687, than in Brazzaville at $1,890. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brazzaville it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Brazzaville or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,687 versus $1,890 in Brazzaville. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Brazzaville or to Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brazzaville makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Brazzaville vs other spots: cost of living compared