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: $1,003 in Medellin versus $557 in Buea.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $800 in Buea.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,043 in Buea.

Living in Medellin is roughly 80% more expensive than in Buea, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 25% lower, Buea 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$1.79 FCFA 1,016

230.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$6.05 FCFA 3,435

22.81%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.20 FCFA 1,252

-25.00%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.26 FCFA 714

-12.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.52 FCFA 296

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.09 FCFA 619

57.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$1.37 FCFA 777

132.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$3.04 FCFA 1,726

-63.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.38 FCFA 216

231.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.64 FCFA 932

-15.85%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.62 FCFA 1,490

-16.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$4.47 FCFA 2,539

100.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$3.56 FCFA 2,024

-34.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.39 FCFA 786

-23.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$0.86 FCFA 491

76.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.43 FCFA 813

-4.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.78 FCFA 1,009

-36.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.37 FCFA 780

-14.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.74 FCFA 420

21.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$8.78 FCFA 4,985

38.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.27 FCFA 722

-6.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.73 FCFA 983

43.35%

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

$0.25 FCFA 142

468.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.47 FCFA 265

314.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$5.44 FCFA 3,086

45.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.25 FCFA 708

-20.80%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$19.2K FCFA 10.9M

-8.33%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$20.9K FCFA 11.9M

28.03%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$62.4 FCFA 35.4K

33.09%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$17.41 FCFA 9,886

-44.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$110 FCFA 62.5K

-78.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$26.45 FCFA 15.0K

-4.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$4.48 FCFA 2,546

326.34%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$623 FCFA 353.5K

-49.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$35.13 FCFA 19.9K

70.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$69.8 FCFA 39.6K

53.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$70.9 FCFA 40.3K

569.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$61.4 FCFA 34.8K

509.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$214 FCFA 121.3K

236.66%

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

$130 FCFA 74.0K

378.91%

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 Buea: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $70.9 in Buea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 379% 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 80% in total monthly costs ($1,003 vs $557 including rent). Buea is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 379% higher in Medellin, 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: $475 in Medellin versus $70.9 in Buea. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $316 in Medellin versus $623 in Buea. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $557 in Buea – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $557 in Buea versus $1,003 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 80% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.