Cost of Living Comparison Between Ikeja and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Ikeja and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,056 per month in Ikeja vs $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,641 per month in Ikeja vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,227 per month in Ikeja vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Ikeja costs about 3% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ikeja and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Ikeja 21% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.50 ₦2,024

$5.92 COP 21.2K

-74.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.42 ₦43.7K

$33.17 COP 118.7K

-2.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.26 ₦7,096

$7.25 COP 25.9K

-27.45%

Cappuccino

$2.20 ₦2,962

$1.71 COP 6,137

28.65%

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

$0.34 ₦456

$1.09 COP 3,915

-68.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 ₦270

$0.77 COP 2,743

-74.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.85 ₦1,140

$1.75 COP 6,254

-51.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₦1,947

$3.18 COP 11.4K

-54.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 ₦2,853

$1.06 COP 3,792

99.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 ₦1,674

$1.30 COP 4,657

-4.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 ₦3,144

$1.38 COP 4,926

68.84%

Eggs

$1.76 ₦2,370

$2.21 COP 7,908

-20.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.25 ₦8,432

$4.52 COP 16.2K

38.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.16 ₦5,608

$5.80 COP 20.7K

-28.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.30 ₦7,154

$8.97 COP 32.1K

-40.91%

Apples (1kg)

$3.60 ₦4,851

$2.29 COP 8,182

57.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 ₦2,742

$1.06 COP 3,791

91.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 ₦2,833

$1.51 COP 5,411

39.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₦3,192

$1.36 COP 4,869

74.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 ₦3,206

$1.16 COP 4,146

105.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 ₦2,706

$1.17 COP 4,174

71.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 ₦2,693

$0.83 COP 2,960

140.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₦477

$0.85 COP 3,043

-58.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.26 ₦1,705

$2.35 COP 8,423

-46.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.14 ₦4,232

$11.09 COP 39.7K

-71.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 ₦857

$1.15 COP 4,133

-44.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₦1,276

$2.47 COP 8,853

-61.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 ₦425

$0.79 COP 2,827

-60.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.91 ₦13.4K

$41.85 COP 149.8K

-76.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 ₦1,667

$1.44 COP 5,140

-13.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.15 ₦2,899

$1.90 COP 6,793

13.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 ₦6,221

$7.70 COP 27.6K

-40.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.38 ₦515

$1.03 COP 3,680

-63.11%

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

$20.2K ₦27.2M

$17.7K COP 63.3M

13.97%

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

$20.9K ₦28.2M

$27.0K COP 96.7M

-22.73%

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

$41.16 ₦55.5K

$81.4 COP 291.4K

-49.45%

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

$10.05 ₦13.6K

$9.42 COP 33.7K

6.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.91 ₦45.7K

$23.77 COP 85.1K

42.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.86 COP 92.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 COP 69.2K

Cinema Ticket

$6.47 ₦8,728

$4.05 COP 14.5K

59.75%

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

$83.2 ₦112.2K

$312 COP 1.1M

-73.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,341 ₦3.2M

$6,067 COP 21.7M

-61.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.37 ₦26.1K

$58.9 COP 210.7K

-67.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ₦33.4K

$32.82 COP 117.5K

-24.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.4 ₦85.5K

$100 COP 359.6K

-36.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.1 ₦78.4K

$106 COP 380.3K

-45.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 ₦1.1M

$490 COP 1.8M

72.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$614 ₦827.9K

$371 COP 1.3M

65.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,906 ₦2.6M

$838 COP 3.0M

127.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,195 ₦1.6M

$715 COP 2.6M

67.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,952 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,394 COP 5.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$126 ₦169.6K

$532 COP 1.9M

-76.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.33

13.43

21.59%

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

Last update for Ikeja: April 20, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $845 in Ikeja versus $490 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 323% 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 $32 in Ikeja versus $33 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $190 – making Ikeja 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

Ikeja vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,583 per month in Ikeja and $1,544 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 0% more in Ikeja, 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 $32.00 in Ikeja 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 $1,030, than in Ikeja at $1,056. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ikeja it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,030 versus $1,056 in Ikeja. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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