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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,488 in Bata, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $2,175 in Bata, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,861 in Bata, rent included.

Medellin costs about 13% more than Bata, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Bata sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Bata by 9%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$19.13 FCFA 10.9K

-58.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

$43.52 FCFA 24.9K

10.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$2.61 FCFA 1,493

19.92%

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

$1.44 FCFA 825

32.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$0.91 FCFA 521

65.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$3.42 FCFA 1,952

-8.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$4.30 FCFA 2,455

33.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$1.80 FCFA 1,028

-20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$3.25 FCFA 1,856

-23.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$1.60 FCFA 917

10.62%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$2.05 FCFA 1,172

44.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

$10.44 FCFA 5,964

-3.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

$8.94 FCFA 5,106

13.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

$10.61 FCFA 6,065

34.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$10.46 FCFA 5,978

-60.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

$1.77 FCFA 1,013

-9.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

$8.83 FCFA 5,048

-74.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

$3.55 FCFA 2,029

-36.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

$2.61 FCFA 1,489

-21.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

$2.62 FCFA 1,500

-41.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

$0.85 FCFA 484

37.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$1.34 FCFA 768

-2.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

$5.41 FCFA 3,090

-27.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

$6.14 FCFA 3,506

128.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

$3.44 FCFA 1,966

-49.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

$0.84 FCFA 483

55.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

$0.92 FCFA 526

138.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$1.12 FCFA 642

22.32%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

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

$177 COP 553.2K

$359 FCFA 204.9K

-50.55%

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$53.7 FCFA 30.7K

-44.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$69.4 FCFA 39.7K

-35.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

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

$813 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

$78.2 FCFA 44.7K

14.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

$70.4 FCFA 40.2K

-16.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

$152 FCFA 87.0K

-9.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

$141 FCFA 80.7K

-27.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$397 FCFA 226.9K

167.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$219 FCFA 125.4K

202.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

$578 FCFA 330.5K

226.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

$358 FCFA 204.7K

186.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$788 FCFA 450.3K

-14.00%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Bata: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $397 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 16% higher in Bata, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $44.00 in Bata. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $351 in Bata – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Medellin costs about 13% more than Bata, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $2,233 in Bata. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bata, 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 $1,681 in Medellin and $1,488 in Bata. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bata, where all-in costs run around $1,488, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Bata it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bata costs $1,488 versus $1,681 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Bata. 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.