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 $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $377 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $564 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $751 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Medellin costs about 170% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Bahir Dar are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Bahir Dar 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$3.45 ETB 547

72.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$0.99 ETB 156

64.65%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.39 ETB 61.3

179.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.52 ETB 82.8

40.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$0.71 ETB 113

145.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.04 ETB 324

58.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.01 ETB 161

3.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.99 ETB 157

30.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.98 ETB 155

34.69%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.70 ETB 270

33.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$10.18 ETB 1,614

-15.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.91 ETB 461

-22.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.03 ETB 163

3.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$2.06 ETB 326

-26.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$0.78 ETB 123

82.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.62 ETB 98.9

88.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.18 ETB 187

-0.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.02 ETB 162

-12.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.51 ETB 81.2

76.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$4.04 ETB 640

173.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$0.82 ETB 130

39.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.03 ETB 322

17.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.48 ETB 76.2

295.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$2.06 ETB 326

276.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.97 ETB 154

4.12%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$102 ETB 16.1K

-17.75%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$10.04 ETB 1,591

-5.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$49.82 ETB 7,896

-49.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$59.6 ETB 9,446

-67.89%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$5.97 ETB 947

-31.32%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$49.85 ETB 7,901

525.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$49.55 ETB 7,853

17.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,989 ETB 315.3K

42.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$1,514 ETB 240.0K

-19.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$201 ETB 31.8K

169.42%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 169% 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 170% 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $565 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 $1,017 in Medellin and $377 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 $377, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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 $377 versus $1,017 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.