Cost of Living Comparison Between Maroua and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Maroua and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $355 in Maroua versus $1,003 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $517 in Maroua versus $1,573 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $679 in Maroua versus $2,143 in Medellin.

Living in Maroua costs roughly 65% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maroua 73% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 FCFA 1,025

$1.10 COP 3,474

63.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 FCFA 475

$1.26 COP 3,962

-33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.97 FCFA 1,689

$1.38 COP 4,349

115.22%

Eggs

$2.83 FCFA 1,609

$2.18 COP 6,858

29.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.34 FCFA 3,034

$4.49 COP 14.1K

18.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.16 FCFA 2,932

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-10.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.52 FCFA 1,998

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-60.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 FCFA 1,017

$2.32 COP 7,308

-22.84%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 FCFA 483

$1.06 COP 3,352

-19.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 FCFA 482

$1.52 COP 4,774

-44.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 FCFA 1,008

$1.36 COP 4,270

30.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 FCFA 1,512

$1.13 COP 3,552

135.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 FCFA 975

$1.17 COP 3,689

47.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 FCFA 517

$0.90 COP 2,823

1.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 FCFA 6,442

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-6.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 FCFA 492

$1.19 COP 3,743

-26.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 FCFA 1,023

$2.48 COP 7,815

-27.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$53.2 FCFA 30.2K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-35.94%

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

$8.92 FCFA 5,063

$9.70 COP 30.5K

-8.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.39 FCFA 9,872

$25.26 COP 79.5K

-31.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.81 FCFA 1,028

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-90.52%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

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

$316 COP 994.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.8 FCFA 51.0K

$374 COP 1.2M

-75.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 FCFA 89.5K

$719 COP 2.3M

-78.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Maroua: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 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

Maroua vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maroua is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 183% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $532 in Maroua and $1,504 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $355 per month in Maroua versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 183% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $355 in Maroua versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maroua but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Maroua the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Maroua is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Maroua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 183% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.