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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,062 in Goma, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,573 in Goma, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,083 in Goma, rent included.

Medellin is about 3% cheaper than Goma, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Goma are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Goma 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$12.65 CDF 28.4K

-51.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$45.45 CDF 102.1K

-28.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$9.88 CDF 22.2K

-25.71%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$3.41 CDF 7,667

-49.56%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.99 CDF 2,215

6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$1.02 CDF 2,294

-24.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$1.64 CDF 3,680

3.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$5.09 CDF 11.4K

-37.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.46 CDF 3,279

-28.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$2.03 CDF 4,561

-35.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.56 CDF 3,498

-10.26%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$1.69 CDF 3,806

27.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$6.02 CDF 13.5K

-27.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$6.32 CDF 14.2K

-6.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$5.15 CDF 11.6K

67.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$1.97 CDF 4,434

15.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$2.03 CDF 4,570

-45.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$1.70 CDF 3,815

-10.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$3.06 CDF 6,874

-55.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$0.48 CDF 1,080

135.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.98 CDF 4,450

-42.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.72 CDF 1,615

26.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.97 CDF 4,436

-39.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$2.22 CDF 4,978

12.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$2.02 CDF 4,532

-4.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.02 CDF 2,284

-2.94%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$200 CDF 448.9K

-59.56%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$14.86 CDF 33.4K

-33.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$55.9 CDF 125.6K

-56.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$29.84 CDF 67.0K

-15.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$19.77 CDF 44.4K

194.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$100 CDF 225.8K

7.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$501 CDF 1.1M

-4.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$299 CDF 671.6K

25.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$795 CDF 1.8M

6.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$507 CDF 1.1M

43.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Goma: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $501 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 – $193 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 3% 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,594 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $1,062 in Goma. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% 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 $1,031, than in Goma at $1,062. 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 $1,031 versus $1,062 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.