Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lagos Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lagos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,123 in Lagos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,882 in Lagos, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,641 in Lagos, rent included.

Medellin is about 10% cheaper than Lagos, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Lagos are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Lagos 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$2.61 ₦3,551

129.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$49.01 ₦66.7K

-32.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$5.28 ₦7,193

34.28%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$2.17 ₦2,955

-21.20%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.36 ₦492

205.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.22 ₦300

254.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$0.79 ₦1,078

112.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$1.39 ₦1,897

120.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$2.34 ₦3,183

-53.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$1.25 ₦1,698

0.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$2.23 ₦3,037

-38.12%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$1.68 ₦2,287

30.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$6.15 ₦8,375

-28.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$4.29 ₦5,844

31.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$5.25 ₦7,154

69.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$3.48 ₦4,742

-32.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$2.06 ₦2,801

-48.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$2.21 ₦3,011

-32.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$2.28 ₦3,105

-39.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$2.40 ₦3,271

-52.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$2.02 ₦2,753

-42.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$2.02 ₦2,746

-55.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.39 ₦529

115.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$1.27 ₦1,727

79.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$2.49 ₦3,397

327.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$0.63 ₦856

90.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$0.88 ₦1,196

180.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.69 ₦934

24.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$36.96 ₦50.3K

12.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$1.25 ₦1,702

17.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$2.24 ₦3,048

-12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$4.68 ₦6,368

65.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$0.79 ₦1,070

20.25%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$20.2K ₦27.5M

-10.22%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$20.7K ₦28.2M

27.73%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$41.11 ₦56.0K

100.07%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$10.16 ₦13.8K

-6.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$33.75 ₦46.0K

-28.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$30.68 ₦41.8K

-15.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$12.80 ₦17.4K

48.44%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$6.30 ₦8,577

-37.62%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$84.5 ₦115.1K

266.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$2,314 ₦3.2M

157.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$19.07 ₦26.0K

207.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$24.51 ₦33.4K

31.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$65.0 ₦88.5K

57.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$57.7 ₦78.5K

87.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$1,087 ₦1.5M

-56.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$632 ₦861.1K

-40.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$2,746 ₦3.7M

-69.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$1,347 ₦1.8M

-46.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$3,278 ₦4.5M

-14.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$1,622 ₦2.2M

-25.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$116 ₦158.0K

341.08%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Lagos: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $1,087 in Lagos. 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 341% 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 $49.00 in Lagos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $191 – 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 Lagos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lagos costs about 11% 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,685 in Lagos. 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.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $84.5 in Lagos. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Lagos, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Lagos at $1,123. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,013 versus $1,123 in Lagos. 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, Lagos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.