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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,686 in Bata, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $2,414 in Bata, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $3,142 in Bata, rent included.

Medellin is about 40% cheaper than Bata, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Bata is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$16.45 FCFA 9,292

-63.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$56.3 FCFA 31.8K

-40.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.60 FCFA 1,467

-37.31%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$1.04 FCFA 587

4.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.85 FCFA 479

-14.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$3.60 FCFA 2,033

-51.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$4.39 FCFA 2,482

-26.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$2.27 FCFA 1,282

-53.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$3.44 FCFA 1,944

-62.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$2.51 FCFA 1,419

-47.41%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.10 FCFA 1,185

8.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$10.56 FCFA 5,962

-58.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$6.70 FCFA 3,786

-12.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$9.14 FCFA 5,163

-5.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$7.63 FCFA 4,308

-70.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.71 FCFA 966

-37.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$6.87 FCFA 3,882

-77.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$3.96 FCFA 2,234

-64.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$3.02 FCFA 1,708

-61.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$3.16 FCFA 1,783

-62.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.86 FCFA 484

3.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$2.47 FCFA 1,397

-63.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$5.24 FCFA 2,959

-57.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$6.05 FCFA 3,418

82.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$3.59 FCFA 2,026

-68.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.86 FCFA 487

63.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.75 FCFA 424

153.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.14 FCFA 645

-11.40%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$356 FCFA 201.2K

-76.51%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$207 FCFA 116.7K

-88.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$123 FCFA 69.6K

-79.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$76.1 FCFA 43.0K

-23.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$78.4 FCFA 44.3K

-58.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$165 FCFA 93.2K

-39.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$161 FCFA 91.0K

-32.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$398 FCFA 224.6K

21.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$225 FCFA 126.8K

69.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$571 FCFA 322.7K

46.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$357 FCFA 201.8K

102.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$795 FCFA 448.7K

-31.93%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Bata: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $398 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 47% 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 $56.0 in Bata. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 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 66% 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $2,529 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 $1,017 in Medellin and $1,686 in Bata. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 80% 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 $1,017, than in Bata at $1,686. 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 $1,017 versus $1,686 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.