Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bahir Dar Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bahir Dar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $368 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $566 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $765 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Medellin costs about 181% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Bahir Dar are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Bahir Dar 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$3.46 ETB 541

71.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$1.02 ETB 159

66.67%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.41 ETB 64.4

168.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.52 ETB 80.7

38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$0.78 ETB 122

114.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$2.01 ETB 315

54.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$0.98 ETB 153

8.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.97 ETB 152

28.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$0.99 ETB 154

40.40%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$1.78 ETB 279

26.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$10.11 ETB 1,580

-12.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$3.06 ETB 478

-26.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$0.99 ETB 154

9.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$2.03 ETB 318

-24.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$0.79 ETB 123

73.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$0.66 ETB 104

71.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$1.18 ETB 184

-5.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.97 ETB 152

-12.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.52 ETB 80.8

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$4.01 ETB 627

177.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$0.82 ETB 128

45.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$2.06 ETB 322

15.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$0.51 ETB 80.3

274.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$2.04 ETB 318

293.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.01 ETB 158

-6.93%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$99.3 ETB 15.5K

-15.42%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$10.15 ETB 1,587

-5.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$49.85 ETB 7,792

-48.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$58.9 ETB 9,205

-67.67%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$6.06 ETB 947

-35.31%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$50.2 ETB 7,845

510.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$49.56 ETB 7,746

16.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$1,988 ETB 310.7K

47.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$1,511 ETB 236.2K

-6.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$199 ETB 31.2K

173.55%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 174% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Bahir Dar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 181% more than Bahir Dar, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $551 in Bahir Dar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $368 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 52% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bahir Dar, where all-in costs run around $368, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Bahir Dar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bahir Dar costs $368 versus $1,034 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bahir Dar. 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.