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 $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,062 in N'Djamena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,424 in N'Djamena, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,786 in N'Djamena, rent included.

Medellin is about 5% cheaper than N'Djamena, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Medellin and N'Djamena are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, N'Djamena 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.3K

$9.02 FCFA 5,090

-33.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 116.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,093

$0.86 FCFA 483

98.84%

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

$1.10 COP 3,910

$0.92 FCFA 517

19.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,771

$0.91 FCFA 515

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,976

$1.30 FCFA 735

29.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$1.74 FCFA 983

76.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,892

$3.66 FCFA 2,067

-70.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,492

$0.36 FCFA 206

250.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,905

$3.60 FCFA 2,031

-61.67%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,799

$2.17 FCFA 1,222

0.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$3.52 FCFA 1,984

25.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.0K

$7.12 FCFA 4,018

-20.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.6K

$3.80 FCFA 2,144

133.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,319

$4.72 FCFA 2,666

-50.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,764

$2.18 FCFA 1,229

-51.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,355

$2.70 FCFA 1,525

-44.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,906

$2.47 FCFA 1,391

-44.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,097

$1.68 FCFA 948

-31.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,141

$1.67 FCFA 944

-30.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,170

$0.52 FCFA 292

71.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,986

$2.10 FCFA 1,187

-60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,116

$1.00 FCFA 563

128.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$7.99 FCFA 4,510

33.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,268

$1.36 FCFA 765

-11.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,793

$1.71 FCFA 967

44.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,045

$0.43 FCFA 241

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.3K

$87.2 FCFA 49.2K

-52.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,245

$0.43 FCFA 241

241.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,984

$0.38 FCFA 215

415.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.5K

$5.27 FCFA 2,975

46.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,397

$1.14 FCFA 644

-16.67%

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

$18.1K COP 64.5M

$12.3K FCFA 6.9M

47.44%

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

$26.5K COP 94.2M

$11.2K FCFA 6.3M

137.31%

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

$82.3 COP 292.7K

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

$9.50 COP 33.8K

$26.00 FCFA 14.7K

-63.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.2K

$437 FCFA 246.9K

-94.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.6K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$309 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 208.7K

$26.69 FCFA 15.1K

119.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.1K

$35.78 FCFA 20.2K

-9.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.1K

$44.02 FCFA 24.8K

133.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 385.8K

$88.7 FCFA 50.0K

22.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$1,501 FCFA 847.3K

-68.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$87.7 FCFA 49.5K

331.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$269 FCFA 151.8K

211.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$174 FCFA 98.1K

316.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$351 FCFA 198.1K

45.79%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for N'Djamena: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $1,501 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 46% 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 5%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,592 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 29% 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 111% 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 $1,013, than in N'Djamena at $1,062. 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.