Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Libreville

For one person, living is cheaper in Libreville: $1,500 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Medellin outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Medellin, Colombia
Libreville, Gabon
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Libreville
🇬🇦 Gabon
$1,500
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Libreville

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Libreville actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $1,500 in Libreville, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Libreville $1,500

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $2,441 in Libreville, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Libreville $2,441

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $3,382 in Libreville, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Libreville $3,382

Medellin costs about 9% more than Libreville, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Medellin and Libreville sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Libreville by 10%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.4K
$16.95 FCFA 9,984
-52.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.0K
$67.7 FCFA 39.9K
-30.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 29.9K
$15.19 FCFA 8,945
-37.46%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,485
$5.93 FCFA 3,492
-49.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,660
$1.71 FCFA 1,009
5.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,443
$1.45 FCFA 854
-2.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 9,990
$1.00 FCFA 586
218.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
$1.88 FCFA 1,109
205.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,751
$3.45 FCFA 2,033
-56.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,480
$1.22 FCFA 721
95.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,573
$2.93 FCFA 1,727
-39.59%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,093
$4.22 FCFA 2,485
-31.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.1K
$10.18 FCFA 5,993
0.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.1K
$8.43 FCFA 4,965
17.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.0K
$25.97 FCFA 15.3K
-46.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.5K
$3.02 FCFA 1,778
31.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,883
$3.76 FCFA 2,212
-58.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,867
$3.73 FCFA 2,194
-41.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,870
$3.34 FCFA 1,968
-34.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,174
$3.05 FCFA 1,799
-35.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,000
$4.38 FCFA 2,580
-63.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,604
$2.08 FCFA 1,223
-44.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,911
$1.58 FCFA 928
-21.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$2.53 FCFA 1,491
56.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.0K
$11.44 FCFA 6,735
19.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,221
$0.95 FCFA 560
74.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,103
$1.31 FCFA 771
72.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,674
$0.35 FCFA 208
234.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 243.4K
$34.44 FCFA 20.3K
124.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 3,989
$1.26 FCFA 740
0.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,442
$0.77 FCFA 452
166.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 26.9K
$16.84 FCFA 9,917
-49.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,237
$1.04 FCFA 611
29.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.2M
$29.4K FCFA 17.3M
15.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.1M
$21.8K FCFA 12.8M
59.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 533.7K
$84.6 FCFA 49.8K
100.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.6K
$33.55 FCFA 19.8K
-59.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.3K
$63.9 FCFA 37.6K
-56.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 137.5K
$64.4 FCFA 37.9K
-32.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.1K
$25.75 FCFA 15.2K
-33.24%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.7K
$4.46 FCFA 2,629
54.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$173 FCFA 101.8K
360.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.7M
$5,638 FCFA 3.3M
61.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 266.5K
$84.0 FCFA 49.5K
0.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 182.3K
$43.23 FCFA 25.5K
34.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 424.6K
$52.0 FCFA 30.6K
159.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 307.9K
$104 FCFA 61.2K
-5.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$1,028 FCFA 605.6K
17.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$432 FCFA 254.2K
48.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$2,046 FCFA 1.2M
-0.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$844 FCFA 497.2K
19.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.1M
$3,602 FCFA 2.1M
15.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$2,761 FCFA 1.6M
-30.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Libreville
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$417 FCFA 245.8K
57.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
11.5
-4.87%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Libreville: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Libreville
$432 32.7% $210
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Libreville
$371 24.8% $74
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Libreville
$182 13.8% $29
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Libreville
$274 61.4% $104
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Libreville
$127 24.6% $42
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Libreville
$41 56.2% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Libreville
$73 27.4% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $1,028 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 57% higher in Medellin. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $68 in Libreville. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $371 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇬🇦 Libreville
🕒 Local time
09:04 9:04 AM
15:04 3:04 PM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
850,000 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

XAF, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3,146 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,501 COP (10,000 COP = 2.86 EUR).

Central African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 589 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.7 USD). 1 EUR = 655 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.53 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Libreville 9,450 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Libreville

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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: $1,639 in Medellin, $1,500 in Libreville – roughly 9% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Libreville?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $2,250 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 Libreville, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,028 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Libreville?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $1,500 in Libreville. That’s a gap of about 9%.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Libreville?
Public transport costs about 55% less in Libreville. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How far does $2,000 go in Medellin compared to Libreville?
$2,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,639 in Medellin and $1,500 in Libreville, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Medellin or Libreville?
Families tend to lean toward Libreville – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Medellin and Libreville?
If budget matters most, go with Libreville. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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