😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $987 in Bafoussam.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $1,675 in Bafoussam.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $2,363 in Bafoussam.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 71% more expensive than in Bafoussam, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Bafoussam is 28% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bafoussam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$4.50FCFA 2,525
75.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$122FCFA 68.2K
-63.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$7.13FCFA 3,999
30.29%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$2.23FCFA 1,249
30.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$1.71FCFA 959
5.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$0.86FCFA 483
80.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$1.25FCFA 703
160.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$2.59FCFA 1,453
127.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bafoussam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$2.79FCFA 1,562
-50.54%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$0.42FCFA 233
483.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$2.23FCFA 1,250
-32.29%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$1.98FCFA 1,112
40.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$23.15FCFA 13.0K
-60.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$7.74FCFA 4,341
37.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$6.40FCFA 3,590
128.59%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$4.92FCFA 2,759
-19.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$2.07FCFA 1,161
-33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$2.06FCFA 1,158
11.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$1.37FCFA 767
47.45%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$3.32FCFA 1,862
-37.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$2.17FCFA 1,216
-24.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$0.79FCFA 445
36.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.64FCFA 357
95.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$3.56FCFA 1,998
13.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$9.09FCFA 5,099
48.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$1.46FCFA 821
9.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$1.87FCFA 1,046
60.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bafoussam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$0.63FCFA 355
155.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$0.86FCFA 481
147.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$8.44FCFA 4,734
0.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.49FCFA 838
-9.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$31.3KFCFA 17.6M
-9.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$15.9KFCFA 8.9M
125.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bafoussam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$167FCFA 93.7K
-9.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$26.00FCFA 14.6K
-49.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$181FCFA 101.4K
-82.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bafoussam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$8.67FCFA 4,862
-25.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bafoussam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$536FCFA 300.8K
55.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$3,523FCFA 2.0M
152.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bafoussam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$82.5FCFA 46.2K
8.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$70.0FCFA 39.2K
-20.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$144FCFA 80.9K
-5.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$153FCFA 86.1K
-28.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bafoussam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bafoussam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
19.04
-45.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Bafoussam: August 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Medellin vs $122 in Bafoussam. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $283, with Bafoussam cheaper for home cooking.
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 Bafoussam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Bafoussam?
Bafoussam wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bafoussam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Bafoussam?
You'd need roughly $2,530 in Medellin and $1,480 in Bafoussam 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.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Bafoussam?
Childcare runs $835 in Medellin versus $536 in Bafoussam. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Bafoussam?
Dining out is cheaper in Bafoussam – a meal for two runs $122 versus $45.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Bafoussam?
At $987 in Bafoussam versus $1,687 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bafoussam but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bafoussam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Bafoussam?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bafoussam delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $987 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bafoussam hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Bafoussam?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Bafoussam are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bafoussam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.