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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $696 in Bamenda, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $934 in Bamenda, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,171 in Bamenda, rent included.

Medellin costs about 142% more than Bamenda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Bamenda is 49% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$5.38 FCFA 3,077

49.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

$6.47 FCFA 3,694

52.86%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$1.15 FCFA 658

172.17%

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

$1.72 FCFA 983

11.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$0.66 FCFA 378

128.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$1.61 FCFA 917

93.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$1.73 FCFA 988

232.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$2.97 FCFA 1,699

-51.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$0.84 FCFA 481

196.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$2.09 FCFA 1,193

-15.31%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$2.98 FCFA 1,706

-0.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

$3.73 FCFA 2,131

171.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

$4.91 FCFA 2,804

191.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$2.58 FCFA 1,473

60.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

$0.91 FCFA 521

76.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

$1.20 FCFA 686

87.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

$1.38 FCFA 786

63.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

$3.09 FCFA 1,764

-33.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

$1.55 FCFA 885

-0.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

$0.83 FCFA 476

40.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$0.73 FCFA 419

79.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

$1.80 FCFA 1,029

116.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

$10.08 FCFA 5,762

38.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

$1.45 FCFA 826

20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

$1.79 FCFA 1,020

60.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

$1.34 FCFA 766

-8.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

$9.33 FCFA 5,334

762.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

$0.60 FCFA 341

118.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

$0.61 FCFA 346

259.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

$5.63 FCFA 3,220

54.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$1.45 FCFA 827

-5.52%

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

$178 FCFA 101.6K

-0.26%

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

$30.39 FCFA 17.4K

-54.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$37.88 FCFA 21.6K

-21.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$17.96 FCFA 10.3K

149.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

$8.96 FCFA 5,118

-25.78%

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

$813 COP 2.5M

$179 FCFA 102.1K

354.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

$26.27 FCFA 15.0K

240.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

$43.46 FCFA 24.8K

35.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

$47.75 FCFA 27.3K

189.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

$53.7 FCFA 30.7K

90.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$69.6 FCFA 39.7K

1426.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$35.89 FCFA 20.5K

1747.12%

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

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$97.5 FCFA 55.7K

595.16%

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 Bamenda: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $69.6 in Bamenda. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 595% 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: $1,681 in Medellin, $696 in Bamenda – roughly 142% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,044 in Bamenda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bamenda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $696 in Bamenda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $813 per month in Medellin and $179 in Bamenda. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bamenda, where all-in costs run around $696, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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 $696 in Bamenda to $1,681 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.