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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,650 per month in Douala vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,687 per month in Douala vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Douala vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Douala costs about 65% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Douala sits 24% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.94 FCFA 5,077

$5.91 COP 18.6K

51.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$126 FCFA 71.4K

$32.96 COP 103.8K

281.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 FCFA 3,012

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-28.53%

Cappuccino

$1.81 FCFA 1,028

$1.65 COP 5,207

9.70%

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

$1.72 FCFA 978

$1.10 COP 3,468

56.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 FCFA 474

$0.78 COP 2,458

6.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 FCFA 663

$1.72 COP 5,412

-31.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 FCFA 1,491

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-17.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.84 FCFA 1,615

$1.10 COP 3,474

158.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 FCFA 255

$1.26 COP 3,962

-64.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 FCFA 1,330

$1.38 COP 4,349

69.57%

Eggs

$2.01 FCFA 1,139

$2.18 COP 6,858

-7.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.23 FCFA 13.2K

$4.49 COP 14.1K

417.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.72 FCFA 4,383

$5.79 COP 18.2K

33.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.62 FCFA 3,757

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-26.20%

Apples (1kg)

$4.89 FCFA 2,775

$2.32 COP 7,308

110.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 FCFA 1,197

$1.06 COP 3,352

99.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 FCFA 1,177

$1.52 COP 4,774

36.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 FCFA 801

$1.36 COP 4,270

3.68%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 FCFA 1,873

$1.13 COP 3,552

192.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 FCFA 1,291

$1.17 COP 3,689

94.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 FCFA 440

$0.90 COP 2,838

-13.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 FCFA 353

$0.90 COP 2,823

-31.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 FCFA 1,953

$2.23 COP 7,034

54.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.70 FCFA 4,941

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-28.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 FCFA 808

$1.19 COP 3,743

19.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 FCFA 1,074

$2.48 COP 7,815

-23.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 FCFA 363

$0.85 COP 2,687

-24.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.56 FCFA 9,967

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-57.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 FCFA 310

$1.42 COP 4,459

-61.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 FCFA 465

$1.95 COP 6,141

-57.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.51 FCFA 4,832

$7.89 COP 24.8K

7.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 FCFA 803

$0.99 COP 3,118

42.42%

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

$30.9K FCFA 17.6M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

75.79%

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

$15.7K FCFA 8.9M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-41.50%

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

$168 FCFA 95.2K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

101.90%

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

$26.17 FCFA 14.9K

$9.70 COP 30.5K

169.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$183 FCFA 104.0K

$23.52 COP 74.1K

678.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.46 FCFA 13.3K

$25.26 COP 79.5K

-7.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.46 FCFA 1,966

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-81.88%

Cinema Ticket

$8.65 FCFA 4,911

$3.95 COP 12.4K

118.99%

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

$541 FCFA 307.2K

$316 COP 994.2K

71.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,435 FCFA 2.0M

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-42.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.0 FCFA 46.5K

$60.0 COP 188.9K

36.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.6 FCFA 39.5K

$31.82 COP 100.2K

118.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$145 FCFA 82.1K

$102 COP 320.1K

42.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$154 FCFA 87.5K

$107 COP 338.3K

43.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 FCFA 511.2K

$475 COP 1.5M

89.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 FCFA 337.2K

$374 COP 1.2M

58.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,908 FCFA 1.1M

$849 COP 2.7M

124.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 FCFA 632.5K

$719 COP 2.3M

54.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,048 FCFA 1.2M

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-37.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$978 FCFA 555.4K

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-32.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$211 FCFA 119.9K

$624 COP 2.0M

-66.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.21

13.43

43.04%

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

Last update for Douala: July 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $900 in Douala versus $475 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 196% 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 $126 in Douala versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $193 – making Medellin 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

Douala vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Douala is pricier by about 65%, 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 $2,476 per month in Douala and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Groceries cost about 47% more in Douala, 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 $126 in Douala and $33.00 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 Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Douala at $1,650. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Douala it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Douala makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.