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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,636 in Douala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $2,621 in Douala, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $3,606 in Douala, rent included.

Medellin is about 37% cheaper than Douala, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Douala is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$9.02 FCFA 5,062

-34.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$126 FCFA 70.4K

-73.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$5.15 FCFA 2,890

39.81%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$1.89 FCFA 1,062

-10.05%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$1.68 FCFA 941

-34.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.83 FCFA 467

-13.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$1.18 FCFA 660

41.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$2.66 FCFA 1,492

16.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$2.90 FCFA 1,627

-63.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.45 FCFA 250

177.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$2.24 FCFA 1,258

-37.95%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$1.91 FCFA 1,069

18.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$22.75 FCFA 12.8K

-80.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$7.72 FCFA 4,329

-24.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$6.58 FCFA 3,690

34.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$4.94 FCFA 2,773

-54.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$2.10 FCFA 1,177

-48.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$2.09 FCFA 1,171

-26.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$1.36 FCFA 762

0.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$3.38 FCFA 1,897

-66.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$2.24 FCFA 1,256

-50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.73 FCFA 408

16.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.67 FCFA 375

35.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$3.59 FCFA 2,011

-35.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$8.32 FCFA 4,669

33.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$1.35 FCFA 758

-11.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$1.95 FCFA 1,092

21.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$0.65 FCFA 362

21.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$17.48 FCFA 9,807

135.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$0.55 FCFA 306

161.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$0.76 FCFA 426

151.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$8.19 FCFA 4,592

-2.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.37 FCFA 768

-31.39%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$31.0K FCFA 17.4M

-42.28%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$16.0K FCFA 9.0M

67.17%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$170 FCFA 95.2K

-50.52%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$25.96 FCFA 14.6K

-63.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$182 FCFA 101.9K

-86.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$23.43 FCFA 13.1K

10.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$3.47 FCFA 1,948

448.70%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$8.60 FCFA 4,822

-54.42%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$530 FCFA 297.3K

-42.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$3,540 FCFA 2.0M

67.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$81.1 FCFA 45.5K

-28.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$70.3 FCFA 39.4K

-54.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$142 FCFA 79.4K

-29.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$153 FCFA 86.0K

-30.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$915 FCFA 513.0K

-46.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$585 FCFA 328.3K

-37.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$1,889 FCFA 1.1M

-56.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$1,129 FCFA 633.3K

-36.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$2,108 FCFA 1.2M

38.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$1,005 FCFA 563.8K

39.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$163 FCFA 91.6K

233.93%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Douala: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $915 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 234% 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: $190 vs $282 – 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 58%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $2,454 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 49% 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 $1,034, than in Douala at $1,636. 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.