Cost of Living Comparison Between Malabo and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Malabo and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $589 per month in Malabo vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,225 per month in Malabo vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,862 per month in Malabo vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Malabo is about 43% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Malabo and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Malabo 56% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.9 FCFA 40.1K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

114.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 FCFA 4,978

$7.34 COP 23.9K

18.26%

Cappuccino

$5.20 FCFA 2,984

$1.72 COP 5,600

202.33%

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

$0.90 FCFA 517

$1.05 COP 3,420

-14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 FCFA 521

$0.77 COP 2,515

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,488

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$2.84 FCFA 1,628

$1.05 COP 3,423

170.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

Eggs

$4.11 FCFA 2,358

$2.16 COP 7,047

90.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.80 FCFA 3,901

$4.39 COP 14.3K

54.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.71 FCFA 3,848

$5.88 COP 19.1K

14.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.49 FCFA 4,297

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-13.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,426

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,604

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,983

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 FCFA 531

$0.85 COP 2,753

9.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 FCFA 724

$0.91 COP 2,975

38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.48 FCFA 2,568

$2.34 COP 7,630

91.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 FCFA 838

$1.20 COP 3,909

21.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.30 FCFA 748

$0.84 COP 2,728

54.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.74 FCFA 15.3K

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-34.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 FCFA 482

$1.42 COP 4,623

-40.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 FCFA 459

$1.92 COP 6,235

-58.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.80 FCFA 5,047

$7.66 COP 24.9K

14.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

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

$33.5K FCFA 19.2M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

85.67%

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

$29.5K FCFA 16.9M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

10.91%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

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

$17.49 FCFA 10.0K

$9.95 COP 32.4K

75.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.52 FCFA 10.0K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

-27.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.61 FCFA 19.8K

$25.08 COP 81.7K

38.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.94 FCFA 8,566

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-21.98%

Cinema Ticket

$5.54 FCFA 3,177

$3.98 COP 13.0K

39.20%

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

$305 COP 993.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$357 FCFA 204.8K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-94.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.55 FCFA 15.2K

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-54.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$134 FCFA 76.6K

$32.20 COP 104.8K

314.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.8 FCFA 51.5K

$108 COP 350.8K

-16.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 FCFA 152.9K

$477 COP 1.6M

-44.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$124 FCFA 70.9K

$376 COP 1.2M

-67.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$958 FCFA 549.3K

$845 COP 2.7M

13.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$520 FCFA 298.4K

$730 COP 2.4M

-28.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$846 FCFA 485.0K

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-73.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$645 FCFA 369.7K

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-53.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.8

13.43

-49.37%

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

Last update for Malabo: July 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $267 in Malabo versus $477 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 $70.0 in Malabo versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $147 in Malabo vs $193 in Medellin – so Malabo 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

Malabo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $589 in Malabo, $1,031 in Medellin – roughly 75% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $883 per month in Malabo and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Malabo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 52% less in Malabo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 31% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Malabo, where all-in costs run around $589, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Malabo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $589 in Malabo to $1,031 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Malabo. 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.