Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Douala Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Douala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,650 in Douala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $2,687 in Douala, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $3,723 in Douala, rent included.

Medellin is about 39% cheaper than Douala, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Douala is 24% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$8.94 FCFA 5,077

-33.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$126 FCFA 71.4K

-73.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$5.31 FCFA 3,012

39.92%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.81 FCFA 1,028

-8.84%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.72 FCFA 978

-36.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.83 FCFA 474

-6.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.17 FCFA 663

47.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$2.63 FCFA 1,491

20.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$2.84 FCFA 1,615

-61.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.45 FCFA 255

180.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$2.34 FCFA 1,330

-41.03%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.01 FCFA 1,139

8.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$23.23 FCFA 13.2K

-80.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$7.72 FCFA 4,383

-25.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$6.62 FCFA 3,757

35.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$4.89 FCFA 2,775

-52.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$2.11 FCFA 1,197

-49.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$2.07 FCFA 1,177

-26.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.41 FCFA 801

-3.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$3.30 FCFA 1,873

-65.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$2.27 FCFA 1,291

-48.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.78 FCFA 440

15.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.62 FCFA 353

45.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$3.44 FCFA 1,953

-35.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$8.70 FCFA 4,941

39.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.42 FCFA 808

-16.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.89 FCFA 1,074

31.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.64 FCFA 363

32.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$17.56 FCFA 9,967

137.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.55 FCFA 310

158.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.82 FCFA 465

137.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$8.51 FCFA 4,832

-7.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.41 FCFA 803

-29.79%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$30.9K FCFA 17.6M

-43.11%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$15.7K FCFA 8.9M

70.94%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$168 FCFA 95.2K

-50.47%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$26.17 FCFA 14.9K

-62.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$183 FCFA 104.0K

-87.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$23.46 FCFA 13.3K

7.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$3.46 FCFA 1,966

452.02%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$8.65 FCFA 4,911

-54.34%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$541 FCFA 307.2K

-41.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$3,435 FCFA 2.0M

73.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$82.0 FCFA 46.5K

-26.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$69.6 FCFA 39.5K

-54.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$145 FCFA 82.1K

-29.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$154 FCFA 87.5K

-30.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$900 FCFA 511.2K

-47.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$594 FCFA 337.2K

-37.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,908 FCFA 1.1M

-55.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$1,114 FCFA 632.5K

-35.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$2,048 FCFA 1.2M

59.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$978 FCFA 555.4K

47.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$211 FCFA 119.9K

195.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

19.21

-30.09%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Douala: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $900 in Douala. 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 196% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $126 in Douala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $284 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Douala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Douala is pricier by about 65%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $2,476 in Douala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 47% more in Douala, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $126 in Douala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Douala at $1,650. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Douala it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Douala makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.