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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.02 FCFA 5,090

$5.99 COP 21.3K

50.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 116.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$0.86 FCFA 483

$1.71 COP 6,093

-49.71%

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

$0.92 FCFA 517

$1.10 COP 3,910

-16.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 FCFA 515

$0.78 COP 2,771

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 FCFA 735

$1.68 COP 5,976

-22.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 FCFA 983

$3.07 COP 10.9K

-43.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.66 FCFA 2,067

$1.09 COP 3,892

235.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.36 FCFA 206

$1.26 COP 4,492

-71.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.60 FCFA 2,031

$1.38 COP 4,905

160.87%

Eggs

$2.17 FCFA 1,222

$2.19 COP 7,799

-0.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.52 FCFA 1,984

$4.40 COP 15.7K

-20.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.12 FCFA 4,018

$5.63 COP 20.0K

26.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.80 FCFA 2,144

$8.89 COP 31.6K

-57.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.72 FCFA 2,666

$2.34 COP 8,319

101.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.18 FCFA 1,229

$1.06 COP 3,764

105.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 FCFA 1,525

$1.50 COP 5,355

80.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.47 FCFA 1,391

$1.38 COP 4,906

78.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 FCFA 948

$1.15 COP 4,097

46.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 FCFA 944

$1.16 COP 4,141

43.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 FCFA 292

$0.89 COP 3,170

-41.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 FCFA 1,187

$0.84 COP 2,986

150.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.00 FCFA 563

$2.28 COP 8,116

-56.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.99 FCFA 4,510

$10.64 COP 37.9K

-24.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 FCFA 765

$1.20 COP 4,268

13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 FCFA 967

$2.47 COP 8,793

-30.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 FCFA 241

$0.86 COP 3,045

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$87.2 FCFA 49.2K

$41.40 COP 147.3K

110.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.43 FCFA 241

$1.47 COP 5,245

-70.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 FCFA 215

$1.96 COP 6,984

-80.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.27 FCFA 2,975

$7.74 COP 27.5K

-31.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 FCFA 644

$0.95 COP 3,397

20.00%

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

$12.3K FCFA 6.9M

$18.1K COP 64.5M

-32.18%

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

$11.2K FCFA 6.3M

$26.5K COP 94.2M

-57.86%

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)

$26.00 FCFA 14.7K

$9.50 COP 33.8K

173.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$437 FCFA 246.9K

$24.23 COP 86.2K

1705.57%

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)

$26.69 FCFA 15.1K

$58.7 COP 208.7K

-54.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.78 FCFA 20.2K

$32.35 COP 115.1K

10.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.02 FCFA 24.8K

$103 COP 365.1K

-57.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.7 FCFA 50.0K

$108 COP 385.8K

-18.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,501 FCFA 847.3K

$476 COP 1.7M

215.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.7 FCFA 49.5K

$379 COP 1.3M

-76.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 FCFA 151.8K

$838 COP 3.0M

-67.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 FCFA 98.1K

$724 COP 2.6M

-75.98%

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)

$351 FCFA 198.1K

$512 COP 1.8M

-31.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.5

13.43

-73.94%

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

Last update for N'Djamena: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,501 in N'Djamena versus $476 in Medellin. 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

N'Djamena vs Medellin: 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 $1,592 per month in N'Djamena and $1,519 in Medellin. 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.