Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ikeja Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ikeja

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,037 in Ikeja, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,658 in Ikeja, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,280 in Ikeja, rent included.

Medellin is about 2% cheaper than Ikeja, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 21.2K

$1.50 ₦2,038

296.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 118.9K

$32.81 ₦44.6K

1.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.8K

$5.29 ₦7,176

36.67%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,811

$2.10 ₦2,847

-22.38%

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

$1.09 COP 3,904

$0.33 ₦452

230.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,604

$0.20 ₦271

265.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,197

$0.80 ₦1,086

117.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.5K

$1.45 ₦1,969

122.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,742

$2.19 ₦2,974

-52.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,614

$1.24 ₦1,682

4.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,718

$2.26 ₦3,069

-41.59%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 8,101

$1.71 ₦2,316

32.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.5K

$6.22 ₦8,448

-30.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 21.0K

$4.20 ₦5,708

40.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.7K

$5.43 ₦7,369

58.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 8,015

$3.49 ₦4,735

-35.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,814

$2.05 ₦2,778

-47.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,438

$2.17 ₦2,952

-29.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 5,073

$2.37 ₦3,222

-40.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,173

$2.29 ₦3,110

-48.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,166

$2.03 ₦2,759

-42.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,163

$2.02 ₦2,741

-55.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,215

$0.36 ₦483

150.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 8,008

$1.29 ₦1,757

74.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 39.4K

$2.53 ₦3,440

336.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 4,063

$0.69 ₦932

65.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,483

$0.90 ₦1,217

164.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,979

$0.31 ₦428

170.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 149.6K

$9.93 ₦13.5K

322.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 5,019

$1.24 ₦1,682

13.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,779

$2.16 ₦2,932

-12.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.6K

$4.60 ₦6,248

68.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,586

$0.39 ₦525

158.97%

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

$17.6K COP 62.7M

$20.1K ₦27.3M

-12.67%

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

$26.5K COP 94.5M

$20.8K ₦28.2M

27.57%

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

$83.7 COP 298.4K

$41.16 ₦55.9K

103.30%

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

$9.45 COP 33.7K

$10.23 ₦13.9K

-7.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 86.0K

$33.71 ₦45.8K

-28.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 90.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 68.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.6K

$6.48 ₦8,804

-36.73%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$81.9 ₦111.2K

280.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 21.4M

$2,268 ₦3.1M

164.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 207.0K

$19.03 ₦25.8K

204.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 116.1K

$24.91 ₦33.8K

30.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 355.3K

$63.6 ₦86.4K

56.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 387.1K

$56.5 ₦76.7K

92.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$827 ₦1.1M

-41.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$615 ₦834.7K

-38.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 3.0M

$1,930 ₦2.6M

-56.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.6M

$1,198 ₦1.6M

-39.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 10.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$73.8 ₦100.2K

632.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

16.33

-17.76%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ikeja: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $827 in Ikeja. 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 633% 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 $33.00 in Ikeja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $190 – 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 Ikeja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ikeja costs about 2% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,555 in Ikeja. 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 0% more in Ikeja, 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 $33.00 in Ikeja. 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 $1,017, than in Ikeja at $1,037. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ikeja it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,017 versus $1,037 in Ikeja. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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