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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $436 in Bangui, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $699 in Bangui, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $963 in Bangui, rent included.

Medellin costs about 277% more than Bangui, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Bangui is 68% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 COP 24.8K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.29 COP 148.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 COP 29.1K

Cappuccino

$2.94 COP 9,056

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

$1.86 COP 5,745

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 COP 4,487

$1.79 FCFA 1,010

-18.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 COP 9,899

$3.48 FCFA 1,968

-7.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 COP 17.6K

$5.21 FCFA 2,943

9.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,436

$5.19 FCFA 2,931

-72.25%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 COP 7,401

$4.50 FCFA 2,544

-46.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,237

$4.53 FCFA 2,557

-62.47%

Eggs

$2.89 COP 8,911

$5.46 FCFA 3,086

-47.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.06 COP 31.0K

$8.75 FCFA 4,946

14.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 COP 30.7K

$8.63 FCFA 4,873

15.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.20 COP 43.8K

$3.57 FCFA 2,019

297.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 COP 12.3K

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 COP 4,886

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 COP 6,635

$7.17 FCFA 4,050

-70.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,090

$5.43 FCFA 3,068

-57.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 COP 6,179

$4.51 FCFA 2,547

-55.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,654

$6.19 FCFA 3,497

-75.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 COP 3,707

$2.58 FCFA 1,460

-53.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 COP 3,953

$2.73 FCFA 1,541

-53.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 COP 11.8K

$4.54 FCFA 2,564

-15.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.2K

$12.14 FCFA 6,857

15.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 COP 5,265

$6.28 FCFA 3,550

-72.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 COP 8,454

$4.39 FCFA 2,482

-37.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 COP 3,840

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 240.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,023

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 COP 6,692

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.29 COP 25.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,179

$2.67 FCFA 1,510

-49.06%

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

$27.5K COP 84.7M

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

$36.5K COP 112.6M

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

$169 COP 520.1K

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

$13.57 COP 41.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.32 COP 87.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 140.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.1K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.5K

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

$803 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,190 COP 28.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.4 COP 269.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.4 COP 183.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 COP 428.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 314.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 COP 3.3M

$1,419 FCFA 802.1K

-24.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

$1,708 FCFA 964.8K

-0.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$655 COP 2.0M

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 7, 2026

Last update for Bangui: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $1,419 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 277%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $654 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 $1,641 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 35% 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 $1,641. 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.