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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $771 in Bukavu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,148 in Bukavu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,525 in Bukavu, rent included.

Medellin costs about 31% more than Bukavu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Bukavu are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Bukavu 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$6.35 CDF 14.4K

-5.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$5.05 CDF 11.5K

40.40%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$4.86 CDF 11.0K

-64.81%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$1.24 CDF 2,812

-11.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.99 CDF 2,246

-21.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$2.23 CDF 5,054

-24.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$2.98 CDF 6,774

3.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.52 CDF 3,448

-28.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$2.02 CDF 4,594

-37.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.31 CDF 2,975

5.34%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$4.03 CDF 9,144

-45.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$5.45 CDF 12.4K

-19.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$4.37 CDF 9,917

28.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$6.12 CDF 13.9K

45.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$4.03 CDF 9,138

-41.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.01 CDF 2,297

4.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$0.98 CDF 2,234

53.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$1.12 CDF 2,552

23.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.29 CDF 2,919

-10.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$1.96 CDF 4,446

-40.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$3.01 CDF 6,838

-70.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.96 CDF 4,443

-57.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$4.90 CDF 11.1K

-53.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$15.25 CDF 34.6K

-30.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.97 CDF 4,475

-39.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$1.97 CDF 4,461

25.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.24 CDF 541

258.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$14.71 CDF 33.4K

181.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$3.91 CDF 8,878

-62.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$1.46 CDF 3,325

34.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$7.37 CDF 16.7K

5.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.34 CDF 3,032

-29.10%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$14.9K CDF 33.8M

21.70%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$16.9K CDF 38.4M

56.75%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$24.88 CDF 56.5K

-61.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$34.73 CDF 78.8K

-25.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$10.18 CDF 23.1K

86.64%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$2.92 CDF 6,621

34.59%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$73.7 CDF 167.3K

319.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$1,187 CDF 2.7M

402.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$40.10 CDF 91.0K

46.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$45.34 CDF 102.9K

-28.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$50.8 CDF 115.4K

101.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$118 CDF 267.5K

-7.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$296 CDF 672.3K

60.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$178 CDF 404.8K

112.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$498 CDF 1.1M

68.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$274 CDF 621.4K

164.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$992 CDF 2.3M

181.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$506 CDF 1.1M

139.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$508 CDF 1.2M

0.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.92%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bukavu: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $296 in Bukavu. 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 1% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Bukavu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,157 in Bukavu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bukavu, 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 $1,013 in Medellin and $771 in Bukavu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $73.7 in Bukavu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bukavu, where all-in costs run around $771, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Bukavu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bukavu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Bukavu. 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.