Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bukavu Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bukavu

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 15.6% cheaper than Bukavu without rent, and 32.3% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 3% cheaper than Bukavu without rent, and 36.5% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bukavu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.7K
$6.33 CDF 14.0K
-4.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 124.8K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.4K
$5.09 CDF 11.3K
43.22%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,133
$5.09 CDF 11.3K
-67.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,947
$1.24 CDF 2,752
-15.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,899
$0.98 CDF 2,173
-21.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,510
$2.19 CDF 4,853
-21.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$2.93 CDF 6,508
8.53%
đź›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bukavu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,015
$1.48 CDF 3,281
-27.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,935
$2.05 CDF 4,551
-36.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,195
$1.30 CDF 2,878
6.15%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,457
$4.05 CDF 8,993
-44.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 16.9K
$5.48 CDF 12.2K
-18.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.6K
$4.53 CDF 10.1K
26.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.3K
$6.18 CDF 13.7K
43.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,438
$4.02 CDF 8,920
-44.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,988
$0.99 CDF 2,195
7.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,697
$0.97 CDF 2,156
55.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,119
$1.13 CDF 2,499
20.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,218
$1.28 CDF 2,841
-12.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,400
$2.02 CDF 4,494
-42.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,395
$3.02 CDF 6,696
-70.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,150
$1.95 CDF 4,327
-56.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,501
$4.86 CDF 10.8K
-53.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.5K
$14.85 CDF 33.0K
-32.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,451
$1.95 CDF 4,330
-39.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 8,993
$1.96 CDF 4,359
21.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bukavu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,233
$0.24 CDF 531
258.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 156.0K
$15.04 CDF 33.4K
175.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,521
$3.90 CDF 8,658
-62.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,323
$1.48 CDF 3,276
31.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.2K
$7.66 CDF 17.0K
1.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,640
$1.33 CDF 2,960
-27.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 67.5M
$14.8K CDF 32.8M
21.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 100.6M
$17.0K CDF 37.6M
57.59%
đź§ľ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bukavu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 305.2K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.4K
$24.99 CDF 55.5K
-62.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 88.8K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bukavu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.1K
$34.42 CDF 76.4K
-25.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 72.6K
$9.95 CDF 22.1K
93.87%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.4K
$2.92 CDF 6,476
40.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bukavu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$74.3 CDF 164.9K
312.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.2M
$1,197 CDF 2.7M
392.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bukavu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 225.1K
$39.58 CDF 87.9K
51.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 120.3K
$45.42 CDF 100.8K
-29.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 386.5K
$50.1 CDF 111.1K
105.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 405.9K
$122 CDF 269.8K
-11.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bukavu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$301 CDF 668.1K
60.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$178 CDF 395.8K
111.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$499 CDF 1.1M
64.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$270 CDF 598.4K
167.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
$1,017 CDF 2.3M
173.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
$496 CDF 1.1M
165.89%
đź’µ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bukavu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$503 CDF 1.1M
6.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
12
11.92%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Bukavu: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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