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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,690 in Bata, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $2,398 in Bata, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $3,107 in Bata, rent included.

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

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Bata is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$16.92 FCFA 9,487

-65.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$58.4 FCFA 32.8K

-43.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$2.61 FCFA 1,465

-34.87%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.98 FCFA 551

12.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.84 FCFA 471

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$3.52 FCFA 1,974

-52.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$4.38 FCFA 2,459

-29.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$2.24 FCFA 1,255

-52.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$3.45 FCFA 1,932

-63.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$2.55 FCFA 1,430

-45.49%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$2.17 FCFA 1,215

4.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$10.41 FCFA 5,840

-58.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$6.97 FCFA 3,910

-16.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$9.45 FCFA 5,301

-6.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$7.60 FCFA 4,262

-70.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.80 FCFA 1,009

-40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$7.14 FCFA 4,007

-78.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$4.04 FCFA 2,263

-66.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$3.17 FCFA 1,779

-64.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$3.13 FCFA 1,758

-64.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.89 FCFA 500

-4.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$2.46 FCFA 1,377

-63.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$5.26 FCFA 2,949

-55.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$6.07 FCFA 3,403

83.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$3.44 FCFA 1,928

-65.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$0.90 FCFA 505

60.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$0.82 FCFA 457

132.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.15 FCFA 643

-18.26%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$354 FCFA 198.6K

-76.29%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$206 FCFA 115.6K

-88.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$124 FCFA 69.8K

-79.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

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

$306 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$75.9 FCFA 42.6K

-23.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$80.0 FCFA 44.9K

-60.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$164 FCFA 91.8K

-38.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$157 FCFA 87.9K

-31.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$403 FCFA 225.8K

20.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$223 FCFA 125.2K

64.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$563 FCFA 316.1K

46.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$354 FCFA 198.8K

102.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$809 FCFA 454.0K

-32.61%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bata: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $403 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 48% 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 $58.0 in Bata. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $346 – 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $2,535 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 $1,034 in Medellin and $1,690 in Bata. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 82% 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 $1,034, than in Bata at $1,690. 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 $1,034 versus $1,690 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.