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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $605 per month in Malabo vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,254 per month in Malabo vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Malabo vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Malabo is about 40% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Malabo and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Malabo 55% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.3 FCFA 39.1K

$32.86 COP 117.4K

111.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.66 FCFA 4,883

$7.09 COP 25.3K

22.14%

Cappuccino

$5.30 FCFA 2,989

$1.71 COP 6,115

209.94%

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

$0.89 FCFA 505

$1.10 COP 3,924

-19.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 FCFA 510

$0.78 COP 2,781

15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$2.79 FCFA 1,572

$1.09 COP 3,906

155.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

Eggs

$4.27 FCFA 2,409

$2.19 COP 7,827

94.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.84 FCFA 3,857

$4.40 COP 15.7K

55.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 FCFA 3,854

$5.63 COP 20.1K

21.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.15 FCFA 4,030

$8.89 COP 31.8K

-19.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 FCFA 525

$0.89 COP 3,182

4.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 FCFA 693

$0.84 COP 2,997

46.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.63 FCFA 2,611

$2.28 COP 8,145

103.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 FCFA 814

$1.20 COP 4,284

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.33 FCFA 753

$0.86 COP 3,056

54.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.60 FCFA 15.0K

$41.40 COP 147.9K

-35.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 FCFA 513

$1.47 COP 5,264

-38.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 FCFA 452

$1.96 COP 7,009

-59.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.98 FCFA 5,063

$7.74 COP 27.6K

16.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

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

$33.0K FCFA 18.6M

$18.1K COP 64.7M

82.02%

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

$29.3K FCFA 16.5M

$26.5K COP 94.6M

10.45%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

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

$17.40 FCFA 9,811

$9.50 COP 33.9K

83.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.32 FCFA 9,768

$24.23 COP 86.5K

-28.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.03 FCFA 19.8K

$25.89 COP 92.4K

35.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.89 FCFA 8,396

$19.00 COP 67.9K

-21.63%

Cinema Ticket

$5.56 FCFA 3,138

$3.93 COP 14.0K

41.48%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$359 FCFA 202.2K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-93.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.93 FCFA 15.2K

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-54.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$132 FCFA 74.2K

$32.35 COP 115.5K

306.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.9 FCFA 50.7K

$108 COP 387.2K

-17.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 FCFA 150.0K

$476 COP 1.7M

-44.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$123 FCFA 69.4K

$379 COP 1.4M

-67.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 FCFA 539.2K

$838 COP 3.0M

14.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 FCFA 294.3K

$724 COP 2.6M

-27.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$847 FCFA 477.4K

$2,791 COP 10.0M

-69.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$634 FCFA 357.8K

$1,211 COP 4.3M

-47.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $266 in Malabo 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 $69.0 in Malabo versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $147 in Malabo vs $188 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: $605 in Malabo, $1,013 in Medellin – roughly 67% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $907 per month in Malabo 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 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 56% less in Malabo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 28% 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 $605, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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 $605 in Malabo to $1,013 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.