Cost of Living Comparison Between Dakar and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Dakar and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,318 in Dakar versus $1,031 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,218 in Dakar versus $1,599 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,117 in Dakar versus $2,167 in Medellin.

Living in Dakar is roughly 28% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dakar 1% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.43 F CFA 3,114

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-11.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 F CFA 29.9K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

60.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.20 F CFA 5,849

$7.34 COP 23.9K

38.96%

Cappuccino

$4.37 F CFA 2,509

$1.72 COP 5,600

154.07%

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

$0.89 F CFA 511

$1.05 COP 3,420

-15.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 F CFA 620

$0.77 COP 2,515

40.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 F CFA 1,551

$1.69 COP 5,488

59.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 F CFA 2,584

$3.17 COP 10.3K

42.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.57 F CFA 1,474

$1.05 COP 3,423

144.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.67 F CFA 385

$1.30 COP 4,236

-48.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 F CFA 927

$1.40 COP 4,544

15.71%

Eggs

$2.76 F CFA 1,582

$2.16 COP 7,047

27.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 F CFA 7,271

$4.39 COP 14.3K

188.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 F CFA 5,416

$5.88 COP 19.1K

60.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.61 F CFA 6,088

$8.64 COP 28.1K

22.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 F CFA 1,603

$2.28 COP 7,426

22.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 F CFA 1,137

$1.11 COP 3,604

78.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 F CFA 1,481

$1.53 COP 4,983

68.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 F CFA 1,227

$1.35 COP 4,410

58.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 F CFA 882

$1.13 COP 3,674

36.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 F CFA 771

$1.13 COP 3,692

18.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 F CFA 614

$0.85 COP 2,753

25.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 F CFA 468

$0.91 COP 2,975

-9.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.55 F CFA 892

$2.34 COP 7,630

-33.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.02 F CFA 9,762

$12.37 COP 40.3K

37.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 F CFA 648

$1.20 COP 3,909

-5.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 F CFA 1,282

$2.49 COP 8,104

-10.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 F CFA 208

$0.84 COP 2,728

-57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.0 F CFA 45.3K

$40.57 COP 132.1K

94.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.58 F CFA 1,478

$1.42 COP 4,623

81.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.80 F CFA 1,607

$1.92 COP 6,235

45.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.55 F CFA 10.1K

$7.66 COP 24.9K

129.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.78 F CFA 1,021

$0.99 COP 3,223

79.80%

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

$36.9K F CFA 21.2M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

104.58%

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

$50.1K F CFA 28.7M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

88.04%

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

$140 F CFA 80.1K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

72.80%

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

$9.57 F CFA 5,488

$9.95 COP 32.4K

-3.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.00 F CFA 28.1K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

102.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.5 F CFA 31.8K

$25.08 COP 81.7K

121.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.51 F CFA 12.3K

$19.15 COP 62.3K

12.32%

Cinema Ticket

$8.75 F CFA 5,019

$3.98 COP 13.0K

119.85%

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

$268 F CFA 153.5K

$305 COP 993.5K

-12.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,349 F CFA 4.2M

$6,059 COP 19.7M

21.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.1 F CFA 39.1K

$58.1 COP 189.2K

17.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.58 F CFA 25.0K

$32.20 COP 104.8K

35.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 F CFA 60.1K

$101 COP 327.9K

4.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 F CFA 73.7K

$108 COP 350.8K

19.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$931 F CFA 533.8K

$477 COP 1.6M

95.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 F CFA 211.5K

$376 COP 1.2M

-1.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,907 F CFA 1.1M

$845 COP 2.7M

125.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$933 F CFA 534.8K

$730 COP 2.4M

27.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,047 F CFA 2.9M

$3,215 COP 10.5M

56.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 F CFA 828.4K

$1,372 COP 4.5M

5.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$420 F CFA 241.0K

$617 COP 2.0M

-31.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.25

13.43

-38.57%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dakar: July 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $931 in Dakar and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 47% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $52.0 in Dakar vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $193 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

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

Dakar vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dakar and Medellin differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($1,318 vs $1,031 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 47% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $931 in Dakar versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,318 per month in Dakar versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 95% less than in Dakar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,318 in Dakar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Dakar. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Dakar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.