🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $31.52 in Makurdi versus $1,031 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $47.00 in Makurdi versus $1,599 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $61.7 in Makurdi versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Makurdi costs roughly 97% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Makurdi98% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makurdi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.66₦906
$6.16COP 20.1K
-89.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$32.60COP 106.1K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.41₦4,695
$7.34COP 23.9K
-53.54%
Cappuccino
-
$1.72COP 5,600
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14₦198
$1.05COP 3,420
-86.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13₦176
$0.77COP 2,515
-83.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.60₦822
$1.69COP 5,488
-64.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05₦1,445
$3.17COP 10.3K
-66.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makurdi
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.05COP 3,423
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.30COP 4,236
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.40COP 4,544
-
Eggs
-
$2.16COP 7,047
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$4.39COP 14.3K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$5.88COP 19.1K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$8.64COP 28.1K
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.28COP 7,426
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.11COP 3,604
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.53COP 4,983
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$1.35COP 4,410
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.13COP 3,674
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.13COP 3,692
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.85COP 2,753
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.91COP 2,975
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.34COP 7,630
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$12.37COP 40.3K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.20COP 3,909
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.49COP 8,104
-
🚌 Getting Around
Makurdi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.84COP 2,728
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.42COP 4,623
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.92COP 6,235
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.66COP 24.9K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$0.99COP 3,223
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makurdi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$80.8COP 263.1K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$9.95COP 32.4K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$24.18COP 78.7K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makurdi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.08COP 81.7K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$3.98COP 13.0K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makurdi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$305COP 993.5K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$6,059COP 19.7M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makurdi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.27₦27.9K
$58.1COP 189.2K
-65.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$32.20COP 104.8K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$101COP 327.9K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$108COP 350.8K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makurdi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$477COP 1.6M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$376COP 1.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$845COP 2.7M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$730COP 2.4M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makurdi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
13.43
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Makurdi: July 11, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
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
Makurdi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Makurdi or Medellin?
Makurdi wins on cost – living expenses run 3170% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Makurdi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Makurdi and in Medellin?
You'd need roughly $47.28 in Makurdi and $1,546 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Makurdi or in Medellin?
At $31.52 in Makurdi versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Makurdi but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Makurdi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Makurdi or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Makurdi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $31.52 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Makurdi hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Makurdi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3170% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.