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 $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $1,138 in N'Djamena, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $1,504 in N'Djamena, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $1,870 in N'Djamena, rent included.

Medellin costs about 44% more than N'Djamena, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while N'Djamena is 18% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 COP 24.8K

$8.67 FCFA 4,902

-7.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.29 COP 148.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 COP 29.0K

Cappuccino

$2.94 COP 9,045

$0.87 FCFA 492

237.93%

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

$1.86 COP 5,738

$0.92 FCFA 518

102.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 COP 4,481

$0.86 FCFA 486

69.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 COP 9,887

$1.37 FCFA 772

134.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 COP 17.6K

$1.79 FCFA 1,010

218.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,431

$3.83 FCFA 2,164

-62.40%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 COP 7,393

$0.33 FCFA 188

627.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,230

$3.58 FCFA 2,022

-52.51%

Eggs

$2.89 COP 8,901

$2.18 FCFA 1,232

32.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.06 COP 31.0K

$3.56 FCFA 2,011

182.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 COP 30.7K

$7.00 FCFA 3,959

42.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.20 COP 43.7K

$3.68 FCFA 2,080

285.87%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 COP 12.3K

$4.89 FCFA 2,764

-18.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 COP 4,880

$2.18 FCFA 1,234

-27.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 COP 6,627

$2.73 FCFA 1,546

-21.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,082

$2.48 FCFA 1,403

-7.26%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 COP 6,172

$1.67 FCFA 946

19.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,648

$1.62 FCFA 918

-6.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 COP 3,703

$0.51 FCFA 287

135.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 COP 3,948

$2.24 FCFA 1,269

-42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 COP 11.8K

$1.03 FCFA 584

272.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.1K

$7.98 FCFA 4,512

75.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 COP 5,259

$1.22 FCFA 687

40.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 COP 8,444

$1.74 FCFA 981

57.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 COP 3,836

$0.45 FCFA 255

177.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 239.9K

$88.9 FCFA 50.2K

-12.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,018

$0.42 FCFA 239

211.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 COP 6,684

$0.43 FCFA 241

404.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.29 COP 25.5K

$5.27 FCFA 2,976

57.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,174

$1.36 FCFA 768

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

$27.5K COP 84.6M

$12.3K FCFA 7.0M

122.76%

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

$36.5K COP 112.5M

$11.4K FCFA 6.4M

220.68%

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

$169 COP 519.5K

$44.88 FCFA 25.4K

275.94%

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

$13.57 COP 41.8K

$26.33 FCFA 14.9K

-48.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.32 COP 87.2K

$438 FCFA 247.5K

-93.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 140.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.5K

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

$803 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,190 COP 28.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.4 COP 269.0K

$26.64 FCFA 15.1K

227.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.4 COP 182.8K

$35.26 FCFA 19.9K

68.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 COP 427.7K

$44.56 FCFA 25.2K

211.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 314.2K

$90.0 FCFA 50.9K

13.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 COP 3.3M

$1,799 FCFA 1.0M

-40.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 COP 2.0M

$90.2 FCFA 51.0K

624.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 5.9M

$262 FCFA 147.8K

636.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.2M

$178 FCFA 100.5K

489.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$655 COP 2.0M

$361 FCFA 204.1K

81.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

3.5

212.57%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for N'Djamena: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $1,799 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 81% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 – Medellin is pricier by about 44%, 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $1,706 in N'Djamena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in N'Djamena, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Medellin, 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 14% less in N'Djamena. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in N'Djamena, where all-in costs run around $1,138, than in Medellin at $1,641. In N'Djamena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward N'Djamena – 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 N'Djamena. 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.