Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and N'Djamena Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and N'Djamena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,057 in N'Djamena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,452 in N'Djamena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,847 in N'Djamena, rent included.

Medellin is about 2% cheaper than N'Djamena, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Medellin and N'Djamena are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, N'Djamena 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$8.78 FCFA 5,042

-29.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$0.91 FCFA 522

89.01%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.92 FCFA 525

14.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.90 FCFA 514

-14.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$1.33 FCFA 766

27.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$1.78 FCFA 1,023

78.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$3.79 FCFA 2,175

-72.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$0.34 FCFA 194

282.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$3.60 FCFA 2,065

-61.11%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.16 FCFA 1,239

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$3.60 FCFA 2,069

21.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$6.97 FCFA 4,000

-15.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$3.63 FCFA 2,086

138.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$4.81 FCFA 2,759

-52.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$2.15 FCFA 1,233

-48.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$2.66 FCFA 1,528

-42.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$2.56 FCFA 1,471

-47.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.62 FCFA 931

-30.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.66 FCFA 955

-31.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$0.54 FCFA 312

57.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$2.10 FCFA 1,208

-56.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$0.99 FCFA 570

136.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$7.98 FCFA 4,582

55.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.37 FCFA 784

-12.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$1.73 FCFA 992

43.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.45 FCFA 259

86.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$86.8 FCFA 49.8K

-53.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$0.46 FCFA 264

208.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$0.41 FCFA 236

368.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$5.32 FCFA 3,052

43.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.10 FCFA 633

-10.00%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$12.1K FCFA 7.0M

48.70%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$11.2K FCFA 6.4M

137.34%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$26.26 FCFA 15.1K

-62.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$440 FCFA 252.5K

-94.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

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

$305 COP 993.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$25.97 FCFA 14.9K

123.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$35.32 FCFA 20.3K

-8.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$44.78 FCFA 25.7K

124.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$88.7 FCFA 50.9K

21.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$1,479 FCFA 849.4K

-67.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$89.6 FCFA 51.4K

320.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$261 FCFA 149.7K

224.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$173 FCFA 99.6K

321.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$343 FCFA 197.1K

79.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

3.5

283.71%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for N'Djamena: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $1,479 in N'Djamena. 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 80% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 N'Djamena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – N'Djamena is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,585 in N'Djamena. 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 26% more in N'Djamena, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Public transport costs about 114% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in N'Djamena at $1,057. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in N'Djamena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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