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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $432 per month in Goma vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $746 per month in Goma vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,061 per month in Goma vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Goma is about 75% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Goma sits 69% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.86 CDF 33.6K

$8.03 COP 25.2K

85.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.24 CDF 102.4K

$48.26 COP 151.7K

-6.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.81 CDF 22.2K

$9.77 COP 30.7K

0.41%

Cappuccino

$3.46 CDF 7,823

$2.91 COP 9,149

18.90%

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

$1.02 CDF 2,303

$1.94 COP 6,110

-47.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 CDF 2,309

$1.52 COP 4,783

-32.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 CDF 2,764

$3.09 COP 9,721

-60.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.03 CDF 11.4K

$5.74 COP 18.1K

-12.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 CDF 2,207

$1.36 COP 4,287

-28.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,505

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 CDF 2,646

$1.70 COP 5,346

-31.18%

Eggs

$1.59 CDF 3,604

$2.87 COP 9,021

-44.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.16 CDF 13.9K

$9.94 COP 31.2K

-38.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.44 CDF 5,534

$10.78 COP 33.9K

-77.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.94 CDF 11.2K

$14.73 COP 46.3K

-66.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 CDF 4,564

$4.09 COP 12.8K

-50.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 COP 4,940

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 CDF 3,477

$2.13 COP 6,682

-27.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 COP 6,959

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 CDF 1,077

$2.05 COP 6,435

-76.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 COP 4,728

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 COP 3,740

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 CDF 1,542

$1.16 COP 3,640

-41.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 CDF 4,463

$1.58 COP 4,978

24.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 CDF 5,741

$2.83 COP 8,889

-10.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,672

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 244.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,038

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.09 COP 6,576

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 27.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 COP 4,080

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

$27.7K COP 86.9M

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

$35.5K COP 111.6M

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

$176 COP 553.4K

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

$15.06 CDF 34.1K

$13.37 COP 42.0K

12.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 CDF 133.3K

$29.89 COP 94.0K

97.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.45 CDF 66.7K

$44.76 COP 140.7K

-34.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.6K

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.5K

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

$793 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,019 COP 28.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.6 COP 269.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 COP 183.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$136 COP 428.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$103 COP 324.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$665 COP 2.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Goma: August 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Goma versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $107 vs $303 – making Goma 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

Goma vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 297% more than Goma, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $648 per month in Goma and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $432 in Goma and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 183% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Goma, where all-in costs run around $432, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Goma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Goma costs $432 versus $1,716 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Goma. 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.