Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bata Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bata

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,637 in Bata, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $2,382 in Bata, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $3,127 in Bata, rent included.

Medellin is about 39% cheaper than Bata, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Bata is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$16.65 FCFA 9,450

-64.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$56.8 FCFA 32.2K

-41.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.58 FCFA 1,464

-36.05%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.00 FCFA 565

10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.86 FCFA 491

-9.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$3.51 FCFA 1,992

-51.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$4.31 FCFA 2,446

-26.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$2.26 FCFA 1,281

-51.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$3.31 FCFA 1,881

-61.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$2.49 FCFA 1,413

-44.58%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.08 FCFA 1,178

4.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$10.64 FCFA 6,041

-57.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$6.72 FCFA 3,814

-13.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$9.41 FCFA 5,340

-4.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$7.63 FCFA 4,333

-69.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.80 FCFA 1,024

-41.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$6.86 FCFA 3,893

-77.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$3.93 FCFA 2,234

-65.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$3.04 FCFA 1,729

-62.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$3.12 FCFA 1,770

-62.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.91 FCFA 515

-1.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$2.48 FCFA 1,409

-63.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$5.26 FCFA 2,986

-57.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$6.03 FCFA 3,423

101.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$3.51 FCFA 1,994

-66.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.91 FCFA 515

56.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.76 FCFA 431

156.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.14 FCFA 648

-13.16%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$354 FCFA 201.0K

-76.55%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$207 FCFA 117.4K

-88.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$122 FCFA 69.0K

-79.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

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

$316 COP 994.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$75.9 FCFA 43.1K

-20.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$79.3 FCFA 45.0K

-59.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$160 FCFA 91.0K

-36.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$161 FCFA 91.4K

-33.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$401 FCFA 227.5K

18.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$221 FCFA 125.7K

68.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$584 FCFA 331.8K

45.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$355 FCFA 201.7K

102.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$780 FCFA 443.0K

-19.97%

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 27, 2026

Last update for Bata: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $401 in Bata. 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 25% higher in Bata, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $57.0 in Bata. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $342 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bata costs about 63% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $2,456 in Bata. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $1,637 in Bata. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 77% more in Bata, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Bata at $1,637. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bata it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,003 versus $1,637 in Bata. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bata makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.