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

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

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

N'Djamena is about 31% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.67 FCFA 4,900

$8.04 COP 24.8K

7.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.29 COP 148.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 COP 29.0K

Cappuccino

$0.87 FCFA 491

$2.94 COP 9,040

-70.41%

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

$0.92 FCFA 518

$1.86 COP 5,735

-50.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 FCFA 485

$1.46 COP 4,479

-41.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 FCFA 771

$3.21 COP 9,882

-57.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 FCFA 1,009

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-68.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.83 FCFA 2,164

$1.44 COP 4,428

165.97%

White Bread (500g)

$0.33 FCFA 188

$2.40 COP 7,389

-86.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.58 FCFA 2,021

$1.70 COP 5,228

110.59%

Eggs

$2.18 FCFA 1,232

$2.89 COP 8,896

-24.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.56 FCFA 2,010

$10.06 COP 30.9K

-64.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.00 FCFA 3,958

$9.97 COP 30.7K

-29.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.68 FCFA 2,079

$14.20 COP 43.7K

-74.08%

Apples (1kg)

$4.89 FCFA 2,763

$3.98 COP 12.3K

22.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.18 FCFA 1,233

$1.58 COP 4,878

37.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 FCFA 1,545

$2.15 COP 6,624

26.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 FCFA 1,402

$2.30 COP 7,078

7.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 FCFA 945

$2.00 COP 6,169

-16.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 FCFA 918

$1.51 COP 4,646

7.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 FCFA 286

$1.20 COP 3,701

-57.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 FCFA 1,268

$1.28 COP 3,946

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.03 FCFA 584

$3.84 COP 11.8K

-73.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.98 FCFA 4,510

$14.01 COP 43.1K

-43.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 FCFA 687

$1.71 COP 5,256

-28.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 FCFA 981

$2.74 COP 8,440

-36.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 FCFA 255

$1.25 COP 3,834

-64.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.9 FCFA 50.2K

$77.9 COP 239.7K

14.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 FCFA 239

$1.31 COP 4,016

-67.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 FCFA 241

$2.17 COP 6,680

-80.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.27 FCFA 2,975

$8.29 COP 25.5K

-36.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 FCFA 767

$1.36 COP 4,172

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

$12.3K FCFA 7.0M

$27.5K COP 84.5M

-55.11%

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

$11.4K FCFA 6.4M

$36.5K COP 112.4M

-68.82%

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

$44.88 FCFA 25.4K

$169 COP 519.2K

-73.40%

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

$26.33 FCFA 14.9K

$13.57 COP 41.8K

94.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$438 FCFA 247.4K

$28.32 COP 87.2K

1446.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 140.7K

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)

$26.64 FCFA 15.0K

$87.4 COP 268.8K

-69.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.26 FCFA 19.9K

$59.4 COP 182.7K

-40.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.56 FCFA 25.2K

$139 COP 427.5K

-67.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 FCFA 50.9K

$102 COP 314.0K

-11.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,799 FCFA 1.0M

$1,071 COP 3.3M

68.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$90.2 FCFA 50.9K

$653 COP 2.0M

-86.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 FCFA 147.8K

$1,925 COP 5.9M

-86.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 FCFA 100.4K

$1,048 COP 3.2M

-83.04%

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)

$361 FCFA 204.1K

$655 COP 2.0M

-44.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.5

10.94

-68.01%

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

Last update for N'Djamena: September 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,799 in N'Djamena versus $1,071 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 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

N'Djamena vs Medellin: 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 $1,706 per month in N'Djamena and $2,462 in Medellin. 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.