Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Aba Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Aba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $513 in Aba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $744 in Aba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $975 in Aba, rent included.

Medellin costs about 97% more than Aba, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Aba are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Aba 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$5.30 ₦7,213

13.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$10.48 ₦14.3K

213.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$5.20 ₦7,084

36.35%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.38 ₦514

189.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.27 ₦368

188.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$1.02 ₦1,391

64.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$1.28 ₦1,743

139.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$2.05 ₦2,788

-38.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$4.11 ₦5,596

-66.42%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$2.44 ₦3,321

-10.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$1.50 ₦2,049

193.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$5.30 ₦7,222

6.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$0.41 ₦552

265.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$0.51 ₦690

170.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.28 ₦1,749

-10.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$0.55 ₦743

110.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$1.19 ₦1,620

91.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$7.36 ₦10.0K

44.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.55 ₦743

56.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$0.51 ₦688

188.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$0.48 ₦657

308.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$2.10 ₦2,856

268.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$0.68 ₦925

39.71%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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)

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$12.78 ₦17.4K

102.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$6.46 ₦8,801

194.12%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$92.0 ₦125.3K

236.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$21.13 ₦28.8K

177.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$15.60 ₦21.3K

107.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$519 ₦706.7K

-8.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$314 ₦428.2K

20.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$792 ₦1.1M

5.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$469 ₦638.1K

54.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$95.1 ₦129.5K

438.15%

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 Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Aba: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $519 in Aba. 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 438% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $10.00 in Aba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $102 – making Aba 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

Medellin vs Aba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 97%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $770 in Aba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $513 in Aba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $92.0 in Aba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aba, where all-in costs run around $513, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Aba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Aba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Aba. 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.