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: $1,017 in Medellin versus $544 in Buea.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $804 in Buea.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $1,064 in Buea.

Living in Medellin is roughly 87% more expensive than Buea, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Buea 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$1.78 FCFA 1,003

234.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$6.33 FCFA 3,576

14.22%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.21 FCFA 1,245

-26.24%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$1.26 FCFA 709

-13.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.53 FCFA 301

37.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.03 FCFA 583

68.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$1.39 FCFA 785

132.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$3.07 FCFA 1,736

-65.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.41 FCFA 233

214.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.64 FCFA 926

-19.51%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.58 FCFA 1,455

-12.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$4.35 FCFA 2,458

97.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$3.46 FCFA 1,952

-34.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.43 FCFA 807

-25.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$0.86 FCFA 484

76.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.40 FCFA 789

1.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.74 FCFA 982

-32.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.39 FCFA 782

-15.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.74 FCFA 420

21.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$8.66 FCFA 4,888

27.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.20 FCFA 680

-5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$1.73 FCFA 976

37.57%

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

$0.25 FCFA 140

464.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.49 FCFA 277

287.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$5.17 FCFA 2,918

49.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.19 FCFA 673

-15.13%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$19.6K FCFA 11.1M

-10.23%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$20.9K FCFA 11.8M

27.06%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$62.1 FCFA 35.0K

34.86%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$17.80 FCFA 10.1K

-46.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$112 FCFA 63.0K

-78.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$26.37 FCFA 14.9K

-4.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$4.50 FCFA 2,542

325.33%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$608 FCFA 343.4K

-48.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$35.07 FCFA 19.8K

65.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$71.9 FCFA 40.6K

50.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$69.2 FCFA 39.1K

596.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$61.6 FCFA 34.8K

516.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$213 FCFA 120.3K

239.53%

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

$133 FCFA 75.2K

306.30%

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 Buea: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $69.2 in Buea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 306% 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 87% in total monthly costs ($1,017 vs $544 including rent). Buea is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Medellin pays 306% 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: $482 in Medellin versus $69.2 in Buea. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $312 in Medellin versus $608 in Buea. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $544 in Buea – a 87% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $544 in Buea versus $1,017 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 87% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.