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 $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $378 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $562 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $746 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Medellin costs about 344% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Bahir Dar is 72% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$3.59 ETB 577

123.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$0.97 ETB 156

222.68%

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

$0.38 ETB 61.5

402.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$0.48 ETB 77.1

214.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$0.78 ETB 125

300.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$2.05 ETB 329

180.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$1.01 ETB 162

42.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$1.02 ETB 164

144.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$0.99 ETB 159

78.79%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$1.71 ETB 274

73.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

$10.16 ETB 1,632

40.75%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$2.94 ETB 472

40.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

$0.98 ETB 157

64.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

$2.03 ETB 326

10.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

$0.84 ETB 135

167.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

$0.64 ETB 103

218.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

$1.13 ETB 182

36.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

$0.99 ETB 159

18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$0.48 ETB 77.6

172.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

$4.06 ETB 653

245.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

$0.82 ETB 131

112.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

$1.94 ETB 312

47.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

$0.51 ETB 82.6

329.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

$2.04 ETB 328

326.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$0.97 ETB 157

41.24%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

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

$177 COP 553.2K

$101 ETB 16.3K

75.15%

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

$10.13 ETB 1,627

37.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$50.3 ETB 8,088

-10.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

$59.2 ETB 9,512

-71.09%

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

$5.98 ETB 960

11.20%

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

$813 COP 2.5M

$49.53 ETB 7,957

1541.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

$50.3 ETB 8,077

77.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

$1,990 ETB 319.7K

110.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

$1,507 ETB 242.1K

11.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$199 ETB 32.0K

240.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 240% 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 344% more than Bahir Dar, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $567 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 $1,681 in Medellin and $378 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 145% 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 $378, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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 $378 versus $1,681 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.