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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,026 per month in Goma vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,541 per month in Goma vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,055 per month in Goma vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Goma costs about 1% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Goma and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Goma 23% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.30 CDF 27.9K

$5.99 COP 21.4K

105.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.25 CDF 102.7K

$32.86 COP 117.4K

37.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.14 CDF 23.0K

$7.09 COP 25.3K

43.02%

Cappuccino

$3.59 CDF 8,158

$1.71 COP 6,115

109.94%

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

$1.02 CDF 2,325

$1.10 COP 3,924

-7.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 CDF 2,332

$0.78 COP 2,781

32.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 CDF 3,606

$1.68 COP 5,997

-5.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 CDF 11.2K

$3.07 COP 11.0K

60.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 CDF 3,320

$1.09 COP 3,906

33.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.04 CDF 4,627

$1.26 COP 4,508

61.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.57 CDF 3,567

$1.38 COP 4,922

13.77%

Eggs

$1.66 CDF 3,772

$2.19 COP 7,827

-24.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 CDF 13.7K

$4.40 COP 15.7K

36.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.30 CDF 14.3K

$5.63 COP 20.1K

11.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.09 CDF 11.6K

$8.89 COP 31.8K

-42.74%

Apples (1kg)

$1.97 CDF 4,473

$2.34 COP 8,349

-15.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 CDF 4,570

$1.06 COP 3,777

89.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 CDF 3,884

$1.50 COP 5,374

14.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.95 CDF 6,691

$1.38 COP 4,924

113.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 CDF 1,172

$1.15 COP 4,111

-54.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 CDF 4,509

$1.16 COP 4,155

71.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 CDF 1,514

$0.84 COP 2,997

-20.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 CDF 4,651

$1.20 COP 4,284

70.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 CDF 5,169

$2.47 COP 8,824

-7.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 CDF 4,433

$1.96 COP 7,009

-0.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 CDF 2,304

$0.95 COP 3,409

7.37%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$200 CDF 453.7K

$82.3 COP 293.7K

143.00%

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

$14.81 CDF 33.6K

$9.50 COP 33.9K

55.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.7 CDF 124.2K

$24.23 COP 86.5K

125.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.38 CDF 69.0K

$25.89 COP 92.4K

17.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.02 CDF 45.5K

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-65.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 CDF 228.3K

$108 COP 387.2K

-7.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 CDF 1.1M

$476 COP 1.7M

2.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 CDF 692.4K

$379 COP 1.4M

-19.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$814 CDF 1.8M

$838 COP 3.0M

-2.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 CDF 1.1M

$724 COP 2.6M

-30.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Goma versus $476 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 $188 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 1% 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 $1,540 per month in Goma and $1,519 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 $1,026 in Goma and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% 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 $1,013, than in Goma at $1,026. 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 $1,013 versus $1,026 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.