Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Goma Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Goma

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,026 in Goma, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,541 in Goma, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,055 in Goma, rent included.

Medellin is about 1% cheaper than Goma, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Goma are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Goma 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$12.30 CDF 27.9K

-51.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$45.25 CDF 102.7K

-27.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$10.14 CDF 23.0K

-30.08%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$3.59 CDF 8,158

-52.37%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$1.02 CDF 2,325

7.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$1.03 CDF 2,332

-24.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$1.59 CDF 3,606

5.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$4.94 CDF 11.2K

-37.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.46 CDF 3,320

-25.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$2.04 CDF 4,627

-38.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.57 CDF 3,567

-12.10%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$1.66 CDF 3,772

31.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$6.02 CDF 13.7K

-26.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$6.30 CDF 14.3K

-10.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$5.09 CDF 11.6K

74.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$1.97 CDF 4,473

18.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$2.01 CDF 4,570

-47.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$1.71 CDF 3,884

-12.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$2.95 CDF 6,691

-53.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$0.52 CDF 1,172

121.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$1.99 CDF 4,509

-41.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.67 CDF 1,514

25.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$2.05 CDF 4,651

-41.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$2.28 CDF 5,169

8.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$1.95 CDF 4,433

0.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.02 CDF 2,304

-6.86%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$200 CDF 453.7K

-58.85%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$14.81 CDF 33.6K

-35.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$54.7 CDF 124.2K

-55.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$30.38 CDF 69.0K

-14.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$20.02 CDF 45.5K

193.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$101 CDF 228.3K

7.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$490 CDF 1.1M

-2.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$305 CDF 692.4K

24.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$814 CDF 1.8M

2.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$501 CDF 1.1M

44.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Goma: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $490 in Goma. 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $45.00 in Goma. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Medellin vs $185 in Goma – so Goma wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Goma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Goma costs about 1% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,540 in Goma. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $1,026 in Goma. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Goma – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Goma at $1,026. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Goma it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,013 versus $1,026 in Goma. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Goma makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.