Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bangui Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bangui

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $436 in Bangui, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $700 in Bangui, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $965 in Bangui, rent included.

Medellin costs about 137% more than Bangui, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Bangui are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Bangui 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$1.73 FCFA 994

-55.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$3.47 FCFA 1,992

-51.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$5.22 FCFA 2,994

-39.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$5.39 FCFA 3,092

-80.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$4.35 FCFA 2,500

-70.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$4.35 FCFA 2,497

-67.82%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$5.26 FCFA 3,018

-58.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$8.70 FCFA 4,997

-49.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$8.77 FCFA 5,035

-32.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$3.60 FCFA 2,070

140.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$6.97 FCFA 4,004

-78.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$5.21 FCFA 2,993

-74.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$4.35 FCFA 2,496

-74.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$6.06 FCFA 3,482

-81.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$2.73 FCFA 1,566

-68.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$2.72 FCFA 1,561

-66.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$4.31 FCFA 2,473

-45.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$11.79 FCFA 6,770

4.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$6.09 FCFA 3,497

-80.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$4.45 FCFA 2,553

-44.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$2.67 FCFA 1,534

-62.92%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$1,332 FCFA 764.6K

-64.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$1,685 FCFA 967.1K

-18.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

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 12, 2026

Last update for Bangui: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $1,332 in Bangui. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Bangui: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 137%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $653 in Bangui. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bangui, 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $436 in Bangui. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 108% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bangui, where all-in costs run around $436, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Bangui it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bangui – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Bangui. 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.