Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Libreville Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Libreville

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,682 in Libreville, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $2,697 in Libreville, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $3,711 in Libreville, rent included.

Medellin is about 39% cheaper than Libreville, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Libreville is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$17.43 FCFA 10.0K
-64.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$79.4 FCFA 45.6K
-58.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$13.12 FCFA 7,534
-44.05%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$6.34 FCFA 3,640
-72.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$1.48 FCFA 851
-29.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$1.45 FCFA 833
-46.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$1.07 FCFA 615
57.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$1.65 FCFA 949
92.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$2.99 FCFA 1,715
-64.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$1.47 FCFA 843
-11.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$4.22 FCFA 2,422
-66.82%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$5.42 FCFA 3,111
-60.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$9.29 FCFA 5,332
-52.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$9.06 FCFA 5,200
-35.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$26.97 FCFA 15.5K
-67.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$4.38 FCFA 2,513
-47.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$4.50 FCFA 2,582
-75.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$3.59 FCFA 2,063
-57.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$3.60 FCFA 2,066
-62.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$3.45 FCFA 1,978
-67.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$3.47 FCFA 1,991
-67.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$3.47 FCFA 1,993
-75.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$1.92 FCFA 1,103
-52.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$2.59 FCFA 1,485
-9.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$11.83 FCFA 6,793
4.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$0.84 FCFA 483
42.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$1.73 FCFA 995
43.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$0.87 FCFA 499
-3.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$48.65 FCFA 27.9K
-16.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$1.28 FCFA 736
10.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$0.73 FCFA 417
163.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$17.81 FCFA 10.2K
-56.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.08 FCFA 620
-8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$30.1K FCFA 17.3M
-40.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$23.2K FCFA 13.3M
14.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$86.7 FCFA 49.8K
-6.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$35.87 FCFA 20.6K
-72.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$70.7 FCFA 40.6K
-65.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$65.5 FCFA 37.6K
-61.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$26.49 FCFA 15.2K
-27.71%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$4.56 FCFA 2,617
-12.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$179 FCFA 102.9K
70.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$5,704 FCFA 3.3M
6.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$87.2 FCFA 50.1K
-33.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$44.45 FCFA 25.5K
-27.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$52.3 FCFA 30.0K
92.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$106 FCFA 60.9K
1.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$1,129 FCFA 648.4K
-57.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$522 FCFA 299.5K
-27.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$2,610 FCFA 1.5M
-67.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$1,007 FCFA 578.3K
-27.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$3,677 FCFA 2.1M
-12.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$2,828 FCFA 1.6M
-51.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$442 FCFA 254.0K
39.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
10
34.30%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Libreville: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $1,129 in Libreville. 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 39% 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 $79.0 in Libreville. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $404 – 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 Libreville: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Libreville compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,031 in Medellin, $1,682 in Libreville – roughly 63% apart. Libreville costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Libreville?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $2,523 in Libreville. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Libreville?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Libreville?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $1,682 in Libreville. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Libreville?
Public transport costs about 20% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Libreville at $1,682. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Libreville it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Libreville?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,031 in Medellin to $1,682 in Libreville. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Libreville?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Libreville makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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