Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bamenda Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bamenda

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $335 in Bamenda, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $525 in Bamenda, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $715 in Bamenda, rent included.

Medellin costs about 208% more than Bamenda, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Bamenda are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Bamenda 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$1.72 FCFA 964

244.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$6.24 FCFA 3,499

15.38%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$0.87 FCFA 486

95.40%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.52 FCFA 291

111.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.33 FCFA 187

118.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$1.26 FCFA 709

32.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$1.74 FCFA 978

78.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$2.69 FCFA 1,510

-60.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.65 FCFA 364

92.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$0.95 FCFA 534

46.32%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$3.15 FCFA 1,766

-28.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$4.42 FCFA 2,479

32.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$5.31 FCFA 2,976

66.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$2.63 FCFA 1,476

-14.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$0.91 FCFA 512

18.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$0.73 FCFA 411

109.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$0.90 FCFA 503

52.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$1.42 FCFA 797

-20.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$1.04 FCFA 586

7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.56 FCFA 312

51.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.69 FCFA 389

31.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$1.39 FCFA 777

67.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$7.31 FCFA 4,101

52.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$1.33 FCFA 747

-10.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$1.37 FCFA 767

72.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$1.81 FCFA 1,013

-56.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$0.43 FCFA 241

234.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$0.31 FCFA 172

516.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$6.11 FCFA 3,426

31.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.32 FCFA 741

-28.79%

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

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$17.74 FCFA 9,948

-45.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$34.53 FCFA 19.4K

-30.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$8.91 FCFA 4,996

190.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

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

$306 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$26.85 FCFA 15.1K

115.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$43.64 FCFA 24.5K

128.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$62.3 FCFA 35.0K

71.95%

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

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$107 FCFA 60.1K

409.54%

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 Bamenda: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 410% 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 Bamenda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,034 in Medellin, $335 in Bamenda – roughly 208% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $503 in Bamenda. 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 $335 in Bamenda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 23% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bamenda, where all-in costs run around $335, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Bamenda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $335 in Bamenda to $1,034 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Bamenda. 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.