πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $30.79 in Makurdi.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $45.00 in Makurdi.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $60.0 in Makurdi.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 3189% more expensive than Makurdi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Makurdi98% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Makurdi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$0.70β¦954
755.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$3.29β¦4,482
115.50%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$0.17β¦235
547.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$0.13β¦173
500.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
$0.63β¦856
166.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$1.10β¦1,503
179.09%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Makurdi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
-
-
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
-
-
π Getting Around
Medellin
Makurdi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
-
-
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Makurdi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
-
-
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Makurdi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
-
-
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Makurdi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
-
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Makurdi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$20.54β¦28.0K
185.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
-
-
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Makurdi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Makurdi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Makurdi: June 2, 2026
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 Makurdi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Makurdi?
Makurdi wins on cost β living expenses run 3189% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Makurdi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin vs Makurdi?
You'd need roughly $1,519 in Medellin and $46.19 in Makurdi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or Makurdi?
At $30.79 in Makurdi versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Makurdi but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Makurdi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Makurdi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Makurdi delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $30.79 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Makurdi hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Makurdi gentler on the wallet β expenses run 3189% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.