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 $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $373 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $568 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $764 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Medellin costs about 169% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Bahir Dar are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Bahir Dar 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$3.40 ETB 543

73.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$0.98 ETB 157

68.37%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.41 ETB 65.8

168.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.52 ETB 83.7

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$0.74 ETB 117

132.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$1.99 ETB 317

59.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$0.98 ETB 157

12.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.99 ETB 158

27.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.02 ETB 163

35.29%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.77 ETB 282

23.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$10.14 ETB 1,619

-11.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$2.97 ETB 474

-21.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.01 ETB 162

4.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$2.04 ETB 326

-25.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$0.78 ETB 125

74.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.62 ETB 99.6

82.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.17 ETB 187

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.01 ETB 161

-10.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.48 ETB 76.9

87.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$4.07 ETB 649

197.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$0.84 ETB 133

41.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.99 ETB 317

24.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.48 ETB 76.7

306.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$1.97 ETB 315

300.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.03 ETB 164

-3.88%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$101 ETB 16.1K

-17.86%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$9.95 ETB 1,590

-2.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$50.9 ETB 8,133

-50.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$61.1 ETB 9,754

-68.73%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$6.14 ETB 980

-35.67%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$50.4 ETB 8,047

526.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$49.40 ETB 7,889

21.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$2,008 ETB 320.7K

62.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,489 ETB 237.8K

-3.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$198 ETB 31.6K

215.87%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 216% 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 169% 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $559 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $373 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 55% 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 $373, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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 $373 versus $1,003 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.