Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Dakar Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Dakar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,327 in Dakar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $2,194 in Dakar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $3,061 in Dakar.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 24% less than in Dakar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Dakar 1% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Dakar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.4K
$5.42 Fβ€―CFAΒ 3,061
10.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 117.2K
$53.3 Fβ€―CFAΒ 30.1K
-38.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.3K
$10.21 Fβ€―CFAΒ 5,761
-30.56%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,105
$4.43 Fβ€―CFAΒ 2,500
-61.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,918
$0.86 Fβ€―CFAΒ 484
27.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,776
$1.09 Fβ€―CFAΒ 616
-28.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 5,987
$2.57 Fβ€―CFAΒ 1,451
-34.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 10.9K
$4.36 Fβ€―CFAΒ 2,460
-29.59%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Dakar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,899
$2.52 Fβ€―CFAΒ 1,424
-56.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,500
$0.64 Fβ€―CFAΒ 360
96.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,914
$1.61 Fβ€―CFAΒ 907
-14.29%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,813
$2.88 Fβ€―CFAΒ 1,627
-23.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.7K
$12.78 Fβ€―CFAΒ 7,215
-65.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.1K
$9.50 Fβ€―CFAΒ 5,361
-40.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 31.7K
$10.76 Fβ€―CFAΒ 6,075
-17.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,334
$2.72 Fβ€―CFAΒ 1,538
-13.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,771
$1.99 Fβ€―CFAΒ 1,122
-46.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,365
$2.61 Fβ€―CFAΒ 1,475
-42.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,915
$2.08 Fβ€―CFAΒ 1,175
-33.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,104
$1.50 Fβ€―CFAΒ 845
-23.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,148
$1.34 Fβ€―CFAΒ 759
-13.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,176
$1.06 Fβ€―CFAΒ 600
-16.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,992
$0.82 Fβ€―CFAΒ 460
2.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,131
$1.61 Fβ€―CFAΒ 909
41.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 37.9K
$15.38 Fβ€―CFAΒ 8,682
-30.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,276
$1.18 Fβ€―CFAΒ 668
1.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,809
$2.22 Fβ€―CFAΒ 1,255
11.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Dakar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,051
$0.36 Fβ€―CFAΒ 204
138.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 147.6K
$80.5 Fβ€―CFAΒ 45.5K
-48.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,255
$2.68 Fβ€―CFAΒ 1,515
-45.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 6,997
$2.83 Fβ€―CFAΒ 1,600
-30.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.6K
$17.99 Fβ€―CFAΒ 10.2K
-56.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,403
$1.71 Fβ€―CFAΒ 964
-44.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 64.6M
$36.1K Fβ€―CFAΒ 20.4M
-49.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 94.4M
$49.2K Fβ€―CFAΒ 27.8M
-46.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Dakar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 293.2K
$138 Fβ€―CFAΒ 78.1K
-40.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 33.9K
$9.92 Fβ€―CFAΒ 5,602
-4.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 86.4K
$50.4 Fβ€―CFAΒ 28.5K
-51.96%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Dakar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 92.3K
$56.4 Fβ€―CFAΒ 31.8K
-54.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 67.7K
$21.41 Fβ€―CFAΒ 12.1K
-11.26%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.0K
$9.02 Fβ€―CFAΒ 5,091
-56.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Dakar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$272 Fβ€―CFAΒ 153.6K
13.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.3M
$7,169 Fβ€―CFAΒ 4.0M
-16.80%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Dakar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 209.1K
$68.6 Fβ€―CFAΒ 38.7K
-14.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 115.3K
$43.93 Fβ€―CFAΒ 24.8K
-26.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 365.7K
$103 Fβ€―CFAΒ 58.2K
-0.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 386.5K
$131 Fβ€―CFAΒ 74.1K
-17.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Dakar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$914 Fβ€―CFAΒ 515.7K
-47.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
$369 Fβ€―CFAΒ 208.4K
2.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$1,863 Fβ€―CFAΒ 1.1M
-55.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$938 Fβ€―CFAΒ 529.3K
-22.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 9.9M
$4,996 Fβ€―CFAΒ 2.8M
-44.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.3M
$1,491 Fβ€―CFAΒ 841.9K
-18.78%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Dakar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
$431 Fβ€―CFAΒ 243.4K
18.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
8.25
62.79%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Dakar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $914 in Dakar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $53.0 in Dakar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $276 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

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 Dakar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and Dakar?
Medellin and Dakar differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($1,013 vs $1,327 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Dakar?
Medellin pays 19% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and Dakar?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $914 in Dakar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Dakar?
All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $1,327 in Dakar – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and Dakar?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 95% less than in Dakar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,327 in Dakar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Dakar. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Dakar?
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.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Dakar?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Dakar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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