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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $445 in Bangui, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $694 in Bangui, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $942 in Bangui, rent included.

Medellin costs about 127% more than Bangui, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Bangui are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Bangui 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$1.78 FCFA 1,001

-56.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$3.49 FCFA 1,966

-51.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$5.28 FCFA 2,977

-41.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$5.40 FCFA 3,043

-79.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$4.36 FCFA 2,462

-71.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$4.30 FCFA 2,426

-67.91%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$5.33 FCFA 3,006

-58.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$8.72 FCFA 4,920

-49.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$8.56 FCFA 4,829

-34.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$3.56 FCFA 2,006

149.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$7.02 FCFA 3,956

-78.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$5.44 FCFA 3,070

-74.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$4.47 FCFA 2,520

-74.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$6.31 FCFA 3,561

-81.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$2.70 FCFA 1,522

-67.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$2.73 FCFA 1,539

-69.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$4.33 FCFA 2,440

-47.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$12.14 FCFA 6,847

-12.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$6.08 FCFA 3,427

-80.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$4.40 FCFA 2,480

-43.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$2.69 FCFA 1,515

-64.68%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$1,298 FCFA 732.2K

-63.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$1,680 FCFA 947.4K

-27.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bangui: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $1,298 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 127%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $668 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 $1,013 in Medellin and $445 in Bangui. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 114% 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 $445, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.