Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cabinda

For one person, living is cheaper in Cabinda: $74.8 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $18,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Cabinda, Angola
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Cabinda
🇦🇴 Angola
$74.8
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Cabinda

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Cabinda actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $75 in Cabinda, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Cabinda $75

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $1,603 in Cabinda, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Cabinda $1,603

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $3,131 in Cabinda, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Cabinda $3,131

Medellin costs about 2092% more than Cabinda, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Cabinda is 95% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cabinda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$7.54 AOA 6,887
7.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.9K
$40.54 AOA 37.0K
16.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.7K
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,735
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,809
$0.97 AOA 886
85.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,561
$1.66 AOA 1,518
-15.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.3K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.6K
$1.95 AOA 1,779
194.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cabinda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,876
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,678
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,720
-
-
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,333
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.9K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.2K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,012
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,048
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,051
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,337
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,132
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,699
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,014
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.2K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,359
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,291
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cabinda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,771
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,094
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,612
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,349
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.0M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.9M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cabinda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.8K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.8K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.6K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cabinda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 141.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cabinda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cabinda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.5K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 187.2K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.8K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 316.0K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cabinda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$637 AOA 581.5K
89.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$2,769 AOA 2.5M
-63.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cabinda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
0
-

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Cabinda: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Cabinda
–
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Cabinda
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Cabinda
–
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Cabinda
–
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Cabinda
–
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Cabinda
–
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Cabinda
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $637 in Cabinda. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $41 in Cabinda. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇦🇴 Cabinda
🕒 Local time
04:04 4:04 AM
10:04 10:04 AM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
377,931
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AOA, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,603 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

Angolan Kwanza exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 913 AOA (1,000 AOA = 1.1 USD). 1 EUR = 1,019 AOA (10,000 AOA = 9.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Cabinda 9,830 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Cabinda

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Cabinda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cabinda cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 2092%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $112 in Cabinda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cabinda, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $637 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Cabinda?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $75 in Cabinda. That makes Cabinda about 95% cheaper.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Cabinda?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $41 in Cabinda. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Cabinda?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cabinda, where all-in costs run around $75, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Cabinda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Medellin or in Cabinda?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $75 in Cabinda to $1,639 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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