😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,344 in El Medano versus $1,344 in Abidjan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,590 in El Medano versus $2,184 in Abidjan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,835 in El Medano versus $3,023 in Abidjan.
🌍Monthly costs are close between El Medano and Abidjan; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: El Medano1% above, Abidjan1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Medano
Abidjan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.62€15.42
$3.52F CFA 2,017
400.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.9€49.73
$52.8F CFA 30.3K
7.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.36€9.06
$10.66F CFA 6,113
-2.81%
Cappuccino
$2.04€1.78
$1.90F CFA 1,088
7.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84€1.61
$0.80F CFA 459
130.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03€0.90
$0.86F CFA 492
19.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.86€2.50
$1.05F CFA 602
172.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23€2.82
$1.73F CFA 995
86.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Medano
Abidjan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.13
$2.40F CFA 1,378
-46.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78€1.55
$0.59F CFA 336
201.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52€1.33
$1.30F CFA 748
16.92%
Eggs
$3.10€2.71
$2.28F CFA 1,305
35.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.27€13.36
$23.01F CFA 13.2K
-33.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29€7.25
$8.38F CFA 4,804
-1.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73€12.89
$6.07F CFA 3,482
142.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39€2.10
$3.87F CFA 2,217
-38.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.49
$1.09F CFA 624
55.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.59€1.39
$2.20F CFA 1,261
-27.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.54€2.22
$1.96F CFA 1,126
29.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55€1.36
$1.68F CFA 964
-7.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.69€1.48
$1.74F CFA 995
-2.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$0.87F CFA 497
71.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65€0.57
$0.86F CFA 491
-24.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12€4.48
$1.80F CFA 1,030
184.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.97€6.97
$6.14F CFA 3,524
29.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52€1.33
$1.01F CFA 577
50.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.20
$1.42F CFA 816
-3.52%
🚌 Getting Around
El Medano
Abidjan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.65€1.44
$0.99F CFA 570
66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.58€15.38
$48.00F CFA 27.5K
-63.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.70€4.11
$1.71F CFA 983
174.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.33€1.16
$1.59F CFA 913
-16.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.11€14.97
$26.42F CFA 15.2K
-35.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29€1.13
$1.55F CFA 886
-16.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K€24.2K
$32.4KF CFA 18.6M
-14.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K€26.0K
$30.3KF CFA 17.4M
-1.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Medano
Abidjan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.7€77.6
$187F CFA 107.0K
-52.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.20€18.55
$35.90F CFA 20.6K
-40.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51€26.69
$46.13F CFA 26.5K
-33.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Medano
Abidjan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.32€40.52
$78.0F CFA 44.7K
-40.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.07€13.19
$22.25F CFA 12.8K
-32.27%
Cinema Ticket
$10.10€8.84
$8.64F CFA 4,958
16.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Medano
Abidjan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$343€300
$291F CFA 166.9K
18.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,411€7,358
$3,340F CFA 1.9M
151.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Medano
Abidjan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.8€72.5
$90.5F CFA 51.9K
-8.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.26€29.10
$57.0F CFA 32.7K
-41.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.3€75.5
$84.1F CFA 48.2K
2.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.0€61.3
$138F CFA 79.2K
-49.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Medano
Abidjan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,056€924
$614F CFA 352.2K
72.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$484€423
$386F CFA 221.1K
25.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,832€1,603
$1,843F CFA 1.1M
-0.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,847€1,616
$950F CFA 545.1K
94.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,692€3,230
$2,294F CFA 1.3M
60.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,505€2,192
$692F CFA 396.7K
262.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Medano
Abidjan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$221F CFA 126.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
14.75
-76.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for El Medano: July 11, 2026
Last update for Abidjan: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,056 in El Medano and $614 in Abidjan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $57.0 in El Medano vs $53.0 in Abidjan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $270 vs $260 per month, with Abidjan 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
El Medano vs Abidjan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,017 in El Medano and $2,016 in Abidjan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between El Medano and Abidjan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,056 in El Medano versus $614 in Abidjan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Abidjan runs roughly 173% less than in El Medano. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do food prices compare in El Medano and in Abidjan?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in El Medano. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in El Medano or in Abidjan?
At $1,344 in Abidjan versus $1,344 in El Medano, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Abidjan but tight or insufficient in El Medano. The gap between the two cities makes Abidjan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in El Medano or in Abidjan?
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.
Which city is safer, El Medano or Abidjan?
Safety-wise, El Medano and Abidjan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Abidjan wins on affordability, El Medano on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.