Cost of Living Comparison Between Goma and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Goma and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,062 per month in Goma vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Goma vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,083 per month in Goma vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Goma costs about 3% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Goma and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Goma 20% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.65 CDF 28.4K

$6.16 COP 20.1K

105.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.45 CDF 102.1K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

39.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.88 CDF 22.2K

$7.34 COP 23.9K

34.60%

Cappuccino

$3.41 CDF 7,667

$1.72 COP 5,599

98.26%

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

$0.99 CDF 2,215

$1.05 COP 3,420

-5.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 CDF 2,294

$0.77 COP 2,515

32.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.64 CDF 3,680

$1.69 COP 5,487

-2.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.09 CDF 11.4K

$3.17 COP 10.3K

60.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 CDF 3,279

$1.05 COP 3,423

39.05%

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 CDF 4,561

$1.30 COP 4,236

56.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 CDF 3,498

$1.40 COP 4,544

11.43%

Eggs

$1.69 CDF 3,806

$2.16 COP 7,046

-21.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 CDF 13.5K

$4.39 COP 14.3K

37.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 CDF 14.2K

$5.88 COP 19.1K

7.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.15 CDF 11.6K

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-40.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 CDF 4,434

$2.28 COP 7,425

-13.60%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 CDF 4,570

$1.11 COP 3,603

82.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 CDF 3,815

$1.53 COP 4,982

11.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.06 CDF 6,874

$1.35 COP 4,410

126.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 CDF 1,080

$1.13 COP 3,674

-57.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 CDF 4,450

$1.13 COP 3,692

75.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 CDF 1,615

$0.91 COP 2,975

-20.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 CDF 4,436

$1.20 COP 3,909

64.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 CDF 4,978

$2.49 COP 8,104

-10.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.02 CDF 4,532

$1.92 COP 6,235

5.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 CDF 2,284

$0.99 COP 3,223

3.03%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$200 CDF 448.9K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

147.26%

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

$14.86 CDF 33.4K

$9.95 COP 32.4K

49.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.9 CDF 125.6K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

131.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.84 CDF 67.0K

$25.08 COP 81.6K

18.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.77 CDF 44.4K

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-65.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 CDF 225.8K

$108 COP 350.8K

-6.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 CDF 1.1M

$477 COP 1.6M

5.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$299 CDF 671.6K

$376 COP 1.2M

-20.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$795 CDF 1.8M

$845 COP 2.7M

-5.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$507 CDF 1.1M

$730 COP 2.4M

-30.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Goma: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Goma versus $477 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Goma versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $185 in Goma vs $193 in Medellin – so Goma 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

Goma vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Goma costs about 3% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,594 per month in Goma and $1,546 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,062 in Goma and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Goma – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Goma at $1,062. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Goma it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,031 versus $1,062 in Goma. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Goma makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.