Cost of Living Comparison Between Douala and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Douala and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,382 per month in Douala vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,200 per month in Douala vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,018 per month in Douala vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Douala is about 18% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Douala and Medellin sit above the global median – Douala by 1%, Medellin by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.35 FCFA 2,486

$8.02 COP 25.0K

-45.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$123 FCFA 70.1K

$47.87 COP 149.4K

156.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.18 FCFA 4,100

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-27.40%

Cappuccino

$2.10 FCFA 1,200

$3.13 COP 9,767

-32.91%

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

$1.72 FCFA 985

$1.91 COP 5,954

-9.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 FCFA 461

$1.51 COP 4,712

-46.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.26 FCFA 720

$3.12 COP 9,747

-59.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 FCFA 1,496

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-54.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.96 FCFA 1,693

$1.44 COP 4,509

105.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 FCFA 239

$2.49 COP 7,759

-83.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.32 FCFA 1,326

$1.77 COP 5,535

31.07%

Eggs

$2.01 FCFA 1,147

$2.96 COP 9,235

-32.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.14 FCFA 13.2K

$10.07 COP 31.4K

129.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.02 FCFA 4,582

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-20.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.52 FCFA 3,728

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-54.41%

Apples (1kg)

$4.73 FCFA 2,702

$4.14 COP 12.9K

14.25%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 FCFA 1,238

$1.61 COP 5,019

34.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 FCFA 1,227

$2.25 COP 7,007

-4.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 FCFA 815

$2.25 COP 7,028

-36.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.28 FCFA 1,877

$2.04 COP 6,375

60.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 FCFA 1,278

$1.54 COP 4,790

45.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 FCFA 413

$1.17 COP 3,651

-38.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 FCFA 371

$1.31 COP 4,077

-50.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.67 FCFA 1,527

$3.90 COP 12.2K

-31.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.88 FCFA 5,073

$14.01 COP 43.7K

-36.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 FCFA 870

$1.74 COP 5,439

-12.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 FCFA 1,059

$2.87 COP 8,956

-35.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 FCFA 370

$1.22 COP 3,792

-46.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.44 FCFA 9,968

$80.5 COP 251.1K

-78.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.59 FCFA 338

$1.31 COP 4,084

-54.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 FCFA 521

$2.19 COP 6,825

-58.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.22 FCFA 4,698

$8.71 COP 27.2K

-5.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 FCFA 827

$1.37 COP 4,260

5.84%

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

$30.4K FCFA 17.3M

$27.8K COP 86.9M

9.05%

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

$16.1K FCFA 9.2M

$35.8K COP 111.6M

-54.95%

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

$165 FCFA 94.0K

$177 COP 553.2K

-7.17%

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

$26.52 FCFA 15.2K

$13.88 COP 43.3K

91.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$185 FCFA 105.6K

$29.72 COP 92.8K

521.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.26 FCFA 24.1K

$44.88 COP 140.1K

-5.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$9.02 FCFA 5,157

$6.65 COP 20.7K

35.64%

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

$539 FCFA 307.9K

$813 COP 2.5M

-33.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,461 FCFA 2.0M

$9,187 COP 28.7M

-62.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.8 FCFA 46.2K

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-9.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.2 FCFA 39.0K

$59.0 COP 184.0K

15.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$145 FCFA 82.8K

$138 COP 431.2K

4.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$155 FCFA 88.8K

$102 COP 318.7K

52.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 FCFA 323.6K

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-46.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$331 FCFA 189.4K

$663 COP 2.1M

-50.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,385 FCFA 791.5K

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-26.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$560 FCFA 320.1K

$1,027 COP 3.2M

-45.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,067 FCFA 1.2M

$4,183 COP 13.1M

-50.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$990 FCFA 565.5K

$1,675 COP 5.2M

-40.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$232 FCFA 132.5K

$678 COP 2.1M

-65.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.04

10.94

74.04%

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

Last update for Douala: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $566 in Douala 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 192% higher in Medellin, 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 $123 in Douala versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $287 in Douala vs $305 in Medellin – so Douala 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

Douala vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,073 per month in Douala 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 Douala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $123 in Douala and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Douala, where all-in costs run around $1,382, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Douala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Douala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Douala. 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.