Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,123 per month in Lagos vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,882 per month in Lagos vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,641 per month in Lagos vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Lagos costs about 11% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Lagos and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Lagos 16% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.61 ₦3,551

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-56.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.01 ₦66.7K

$32.86 COP 117.4K

49.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 ₦7,193

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-25.53%

Cappuccino

$2.17 ₦2,955

$1.71 COP 6,115

26.90%

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

$0.36 ₦492

$1.10 COP 3,924

-67.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 ₦300

$0.78 COP 2,781

-71.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.79 ₦1,078

$1.68 COP 5,997

-52.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₦1,897

$3.07 COP 11.0K

-54.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 ₦3,183

$1.09 COP 3,906

114.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₦1,698

$1.26 COP 4,508

-0.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ₦3,037

$1.38 COP 4,922

61.59%

Eggs

$1.68 ₦2,287

$2.19 COP 7,827

-23.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 ₦8,375

$4.40 COP 15.7K

39.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 ₦5,844

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-23.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.25 ₦7,154

$8.89 COP 31.8K

-40.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₦4,742

$2.34 COP 8,349

48.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 ₦2,801

$1.06 COP 3,777

94.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ₦3,011

$1.50 COP 5,374

47.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₦3,105

$1.38 COP 4,924

65.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 ₦3,271

$1.15 COP 4,111

108.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 ₦2,753

$1.16 COP 4,155

74.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₦2,746

$0.89 COP 3,182

126.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦529

$0.84 COP 2,997

-53.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₦1,727

$2.28 COP 8,145

-44.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.49 ₦3,397

$10.64 COP 38.0K

-76.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₦856

$1.20 COP 4,284

-47.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₦1,196

$2.47 COP 8,824

-64.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 ₦934

$0.86 COP 3,056

-19.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.96 ₦50.3K

$41.40 COP 147.9K

-10.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.25 ₦1,702

$1.47 COP 5,264

-14.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 ₦3,048

$1.96 COP 7,009

14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.68 ₦6,368

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-39.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 ₦1,070

$0.95 COP 3,409

-16.84%

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

$20.2K ₦27.5M

$18.1K COP 64.7M

11.39%

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

$20.7K ₦28.2M

$26.5K COP 94.6M

-21.71%

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

$41.11 ₦56.0K

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-50.02%

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

$10.16 ₦13.8K

$9.50 COP 33.9K

6.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.75 ₦46.0K

$24.23 COP 86.5K

39.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.68 ₦41.8K

$25.89 COP 92.4K

18.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.80 ₦17.4K

$19.00 COP 67.9K

-32.63%

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 ₦8,577

$3.93 COP 14.0K

60.31%

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

$84.5 ₦115.1K

$309 COP 1.1M

-72.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,314 ₦3.2M

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-61.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.07 ₦26.0K

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-67.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.51 ₦33.4K

$32.35 COP 115.5K

-24.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ₦88.5K

$103 COP 366.4K

-36.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.7 ₦78.5K

$108 COP 387.2K

-46.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,087 ₦1.5M

$476 COP 1.7M

128.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₦861.1K

$379 COP 1.4M

66.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,746 ₦3.7M

$838 COP 3.0M

227.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,347 ₦1.8M

$724 COP 2.6M

86.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,278 ₦4.5M

$2,791 COP 10.0M

17.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,622 ₦2.2M

$1,211 COP 4.3M

33.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$116 ₦158.0K

$512 COP 1.8M

-77.33%

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 Lagos: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,087 in Lagos 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.

Salaries run about 341% 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 $49.00 in Lagos versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $188 – making Medellin 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

Lagos vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lagos costs about 11% 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 $1,685 per month in Lagos 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.

Kindergarten costs $84.5 per month in Lagos and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Lagos, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Lagos at $1,123. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,013 versus $1,123 in Lagos. 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, Lagos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.