Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: $1,306 a month against $1,589 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Medellin outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

63

Cost of Living Index in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Democratic Republic of the Congo Living Index
77

Cost of Living Index in Medellin
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Medellin Living Index

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🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo

$1,306

/mo nomad

Medellin

🇨🇴 Colombia

$1,589

/mo nomad

😐 Solo nomad: The Democratic Republic of the Congo is 8.6% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 17.8% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: The Democratic Republic of the Congo is 16.2% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 22.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.10 CDF 34.7K

$8.01 COP 25.5K

88.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.8 CDF 194.9K

$46.55 COP 148.3K

82.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 CDF 23.3K

$9.43 COP 30.1K

7.42%

Cappuccino

$5.64 CDF 13.0K

$2.91 COP 9,277

93.81%

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

$1.81 CDF 4,170

$1.75 COP 5,585

3.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 CDF 3,520

$1.32 COP 4,218

15.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 CDF 4,724

$3.13 COP 9,969

-34.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.58 CDF 10.5K

$5.55 COP 17.7K

-17.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 CDF 4,872

$1.41 COP 4,495

50.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.73 CDF 3,987

$2.44 COP 7,777

-29.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 CDF 6,043

$1.63 COP 5,191

61.35%

Eggs

$3.16 CDF 7,272

$2.82 COP 8,990

12.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.32 CDF 19.1K

$9.69 COP 30.9K

-14.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.65 CDF 19.9K

$9.32 COP 29.7K

-7.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.24 CDF 23.6K

$13.46 COP 42.9K

-23.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.51 CDF 8,077

$4.00 COP 12.8K

-12.25%

Banana (1kg)

$2.45 CDF 5,641

$1.48 COP 4,719

65.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 CDF 7,433

$2.12 COP 6,768

52.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.81 CDF 6,472

$2.25 COP 7,178

24.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.44 CDF 5,608

$1.91 COP 6,092

27.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 CDF 6,369

$1.62 COP 5,160

70.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 CDF 4,702

$1.15 COP 3,658

77.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 CDF 2,844

$1.26 COP 4,021

-1.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.39 CDF 10.1K

$3.82 COP 12.2K

14.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.72 CDF 33.9K

$13.11 COP 41.8K

12.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 CDF 4,237

$1.60 COP 5,083

15.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 CDF 7,686

$2.26 COP 7,188

47.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 CDF 1,114

$1.17 COP 3,731

-58.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.33 CDF 42.2K

$75.0 COP 239.0K

-75.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.12 CDF 11.8K

$1.27 COP 4,056

303.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 CDF 2,986

$2.05 COP 6,531

-36.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.18 CDF 23.4K

$8.20 COP 26.1K

24.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.75 CDF 4,025

$1.27 COP 4,046

37.80%

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

$20.3K CDF 46.7M

$26.8K COP 85.3M

-24.22%

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

$23.2K CDF 53.3M

$34.4K COP 109.6M

-32.70%

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

$91.1 CDF 209.4K

$162 COP 516.9K

-43.87%

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

$20.72 CDF 47.7K

$13.12 COP 41.8K

57.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.5 CDF 162.2K

$28.09 COP 89.5K

150.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.8 CDF 132.9K

$44.33 COP 141.2K

30.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.24 CDF 48.8K

$16.33 COP 52.0K

30.07%

Cinema Ticket

$14.98 CDF 34.5K

$6.09 COP 19.4K

145.98%

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

$251 CDF 577.9K

$764 COP 2.4M

-67.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,049 CDF 11.6M

$8,904 COP 28.4M

-43.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.79 CDF 75.4K

$85.0 COP 270.8K

-61.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.75 CDF 89.1K

$57.5 COP 183.2K

-32.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.0 CDF 165.5K

$132 COP 419.8K

-45.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 CDF 235.2K

$95.8 COP 305.1K

6.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,596 CDF 3.7M

$1,028 COP 3.3M

55.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 CDF 799.0K

$604 COP 1.9M

-42.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,618 CDF 8.3M

$1,802 COP 5.7M

100.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,507 CDF 3.5M

$993 COP 3.2M

51.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,653 CDF 8.4M

$3,921 COP 12.5M

-6.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,004 CDF 2.3M

$1,639 COP 5.2M

-38.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 CDF 1.5M

$626 COP 2.0M

1.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.33

10.94

21.85%

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

Last update for the Democratic Republic of the Congo: October 4, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living