Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Calabar Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Calabar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,589 per month in Medellin vs $817 in Calabar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,364 per month in Medellin vs $1,137 in Calabar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,139 per month in Medellin vs $1,456 in Calabar, rent included.

Medellin costs about 94% more than Calabar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Calabar is 39% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.01 COP 25.8K

$1.13 ₦1,493

608.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.55 COP 150.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 COP 30.5K

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,398

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

$1.75 COP 5,657

$0.37 ₦484

372.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 COP 4,273

$0.18 ₦245

633.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.13 COP 10.1K

$0.94 ₦1,240

232.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.55 COP 17.9K

$1.24 ₦1,636

347.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 COP 4,553

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 COP 7,878

$1.33 ₦1,756

83.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 COP 5,258

$1.54 ₦2,043

5.84%

Eggs

$2.82 COP 9,107

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 COP 31.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.32 COP 30.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.46 COP 43.4K

Apples (1kg)

$4.00 COP 12.9K

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 COP 4,780

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 COP 6,856

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,271

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 COP 6,171

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 COP 5,228

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 COP 3,706

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 COP 4,074

$0.47 ₦626

168.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.82 COP 12.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$13.11 COP 42.3K

$4.57 ₦6,048

186.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 5,149

$1.13 ₦1,494

41.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 COP 7,282

$1.49 ₦1,977

51.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,779

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.0 COP 242.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 COP 4,108

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 COP 6,616

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 COP 26.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 COP 4,098

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

$26.8K COP 86.4M

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

$34.4K COP 111.1M

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

$162 COP 523.6K

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

$13.12 COP 42.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.09 COP 90.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.33 COP 143.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 COP 52.7K

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 COP 19.6K

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

$764 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,904 COP 28.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.0 COP 274.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.5 COP 185.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 COP 425.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.8 COP 309.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,028 COP 3.3M

$1,114 ₦1.5M

-7.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 COP 2.0M

$754 ₦998.3K

-19.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,802 COP 5.8M

$1,898 ₦2.5M

-5.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$993 COP 3.2M

$1,367 ₦1.8M

-27.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,921 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,639 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$626 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026

Last update for Calabar: October 3, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,114 in Calabar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Calabar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,589 in Medellin, $817 in Calabar – roughly 94% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,384 per month in Medellin and $1,226 in Calabar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calabar, 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 $1,589 in Medellin and $817 in Calabar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 573% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calabar, where all-in costs run around $817, than in Medellin at $1,589. In Calabar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $817 in Calabar to $1,589 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Calabar. 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.