Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Buea Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Buea

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $555 in Buea.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $802 in Buea.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,049 in Buea.

Living in Medellin is roughly 86% more expensive than Buea, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Buea 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$1.81 FCFA 1,013

227.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$6.34 FCFA 3,554

13.56%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$2.16 FCFA 1,210

-21.30%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$1.27 FCFA 710

-13.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.49 FCFA 273

46.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$1.04 FCFA 581

60.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$1.43 FCFA 800

116.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$3.03 FCFA 1,702

-65.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.38 FCFA 216

228.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$1.64 FCFA 920

-15.24%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$2.57 FCFA 1,443

-12.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$4.30 FCFA 2,414

105.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$3.58 FCFA 2,008

-37.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.43 FCFA 803

-24.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$0.85 FCFA 476

80.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$1.38 FCFA 776

-0.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$1.81 FCFA 1,013

-37.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$1.44 FCFA 808

-22.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.75 FCFA 418

21.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$8.92 FCFA 5,002

24.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$1.26 FCFA 704

-5.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$1.80 FCFA 1,009

31.67%

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

$0.25 FCFA 140

476.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$0.46 FCFA 260

315.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$5.27 FCFA 2,957

52.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.18 FCFA 664

-20.34%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$19.4K FCFA 10.9M

-7.50%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$21.1K FCFA 11.8M

27.16%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$62.8 FCFA 35.2K

33.67%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$17.38 FCFA 9,746

-44.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$111 FCFA 62.3K

-78.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$26.57 FCFA 14.9K

-2.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$4.29 FCFA 2,405

343.82%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$626 FCFA 350.9K

-51.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$35.46 FCFA 19.9K

63.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$71.2 FCFA 39.9K

50.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$71.7 FCFA 40.2K

578.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$61.0 FCFA 34.2K

503.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$210 FCFA 117.7K

241.24%

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

$136 FCFA 76.4K

300.34%

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 Buea: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $71.7 in Buea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 300% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Buea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin and Buea differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($1,034 vs $555 including rent). Buea is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Medellin pays 300% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $71.7 in Buea. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $306 in Medellin versus $626 in Buea. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Medellin versus $555 in Buea – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $555 in Buea versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Buea but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Buea the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Buea gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.