😐A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $158 in Ziguinchor, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $356 in Ziguinchor, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $554 in Ziguinchor, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 988% more than Ziguinchor, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Ziguinchor is 89% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ziguinchor
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.2K
$6.86F CFA 3,869
17.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 151.7K
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.7K
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,149
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,110
$0.92F CFA 518
110.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,783
$0.42F CFA 237
261.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,721
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 18.1K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ziguinchor
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,287
$2.00F CFA 1,130
-32.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,505
$0.33F CFA 186
624.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,346
$1.37F CFA 771
24.09%
Eggs
$2.87COP 9,021
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.2K
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.9K
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.3K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$2.46F CFA 1,386
66.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,940
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,682
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,959
$1.77F CFA 996
24.86%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,435
$1.74F CFA 982
17.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,728
$1.76F CFA 993
-14.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,740
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,640
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.4K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,978
$0.94F CFA 532
68.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,889
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ziguinchor
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,672
$0.26F CFA 146
350.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 244.3K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,038
$1.83F CFA 1,032
-30.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,576
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 27.1K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,080
$1.76F CFA 992
-26.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ziguinchor
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 553.4K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 42.0K
$13.09F CFA 7,377
2.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 94.0K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ziguinchor
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 140.7K
$22.45F CFA 12.7K
99.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.5K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ziguinchor
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.4M
$2,689F CFA 1.5M
235.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ziguinchor
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 269.1K
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 183.8K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 428.4K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 324.1K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ziguinchor
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$439F CFA 247.2K
141.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$200F CFA 112.8K
483.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ziguinchor
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ziguinchor: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $439 in Ziguinchor. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
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 Ziguinchor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ziguinchor cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 988%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,574 per month in Medellin and $237 in Ziguinchor. 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 Ziguinchor, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Ziguinchor?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $158 in Ziguinchor. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Ziguinchor?
Groceries cost about 379% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Ziguinchor?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ziguinchor, where all-in costs run around $158, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Ziguinchor it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Ziguinchor more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ziguinchor – 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 Ziguinchor. 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.