Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Niamey Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Niamey

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,340 in Niamey, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,794 in Niamey, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,248 in Niamey, rent included.

Medellin is about 23% cheaper than Niamey, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Niamey is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Niamey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$5.23 F CFA 3,002
17.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$39.72 F CFA 22.8K
-17.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$10.67 F CFA 6,128
-31.21%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$3.31 F CFA 1,902
-48.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$1.50 F CFA 861
-30.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.63 F CFA 364
22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$1.30 F CFA 747
30.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$3.11 F CFA 1,783
1.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Niamey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$2.51 F CFA 1,440
-58.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$0.61 F CFA 348
113.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$1.23 F CFA 706
13.82%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$2.36 F CFA 1,356
-8.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$7.35 F CFA 4,218
-20.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$7.89 F CFA 4,529
9.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$4.32 F CFA 2,483
-47.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$1.51 F CFA 864
-26.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$2.91 F CFA 1,673
-47.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$2.05 F CFA 1,174
-34.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.51 F CFA 867
-25.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$0.73 F CFA 420
54.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.91 F CFA 523
-6.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$1.39 F CFA 797
-34.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$2.67 F CFA 1,533
-12.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$14.08 F CFA 8,084
-12.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.35 F CFA 773
-11.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$2.25 F CFA 1,292
10.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Niamey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$0.65 F CFA 374
29.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$26.17 F CFA 15.0K
55.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$0.45 F CFA 260
215.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$0.39 F CFA 222
392.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$6.32 F CFA 3,630
21.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.02 F CFA 587
-2.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$20.8K F CFA 12.0M
-13.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$24.5K F CFA 14.1M
8.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Niamey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$357 F CFA 204.9K
-77.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$17.56 F CFA 10.1K
-43.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$8.78 F CFA 5,044
175.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Niamey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$64.6 F CFA 37.1K
-61.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$9.07 F CFA 5,209
111.14%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$4.81 F CFA 2,759
-17.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Niamey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$1,014 F CFA 582.3K
-69.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$4,899 F CFA 2.8M
23.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Niamey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$44.77 F CFA 25.7K
29.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$52.5 F CFA 30.2K
-38.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$39.46 F CFA 22.7K
155.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$47.90 F CFA 27.5K
124.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Niamey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$989 F CFA 567.6K
-51.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$442 F CFA 253.7K
-14.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$881 F CFA 506.0K
-4.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$469 F CFA 269.1K
55.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$1,702 F CFA 977.1K
88.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$976 F CFA 560.1K
40.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Niamey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$388 F CFA 222.8K
58.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
11
22.09%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Niamey: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $989 in Niamey. 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 59% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $40.00 in Niamey. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $224 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Niamey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Niamey cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Niamey is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $2,010 in Niamey. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Niamey?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $40.00 in Niamey. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Niamey?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $1,340 in Niamey. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Niamey?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Niamey at $1,340. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Niamey it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Niamey more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Niamey makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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