🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $648 in El Jadida versus $1,034 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $973 in El Jadida versus $1,577 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,299 in El Jadida versus $2,120 in Medellin.
🙂Living in El Jadida costs roughly 37% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: El Jadida52% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.75MAD 34.69
$5.92COP 21.5K
-36.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.81MAD 183
$32.75COP 119.1K
-39.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.65MAD 61.6
$7.20COP 26.2K
-7.64%
Cappuccino
$1.58MAD 14.63
$1.70COP 6,186
-7.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47MAD 4.35
$1.10COP 3,996
-57.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35MAD 3.20
$0.72COP 2,625
-51.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.87MAD 26.50
$1.67COP 6,067
71.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21MAD 29.65
$3.10COP 11.3K
3.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82MAD 7.62
$1.06COP 3,837
-22.64%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47MAD 4.33
$1.25COP 4,531
-62.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83MAD 16.96
$1.39COP 5,060
31.65%
Eggs
$1.77MAD 16.40
$2.26COP 8,229
-21.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.81MAD 44.50
$4.33COP 15.8K
11.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.78MAD 34.94
$5.84COP 21.2K
-35.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.16MAD 75.5
$8.83COP 32.1K
-7.59%
Apples(1kg)
$1.50MAD 13.87
$2.24COP 8,159
-33.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28MAD 11.88
$1.08COP 3,911
18.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.72MAD 6.66
$1.53COP 5,563
-52.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.85MAD 7.83
$1.37COP 4,987
-37.96%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76MAD 7.02
$1.13COP 4,109
-32.74%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51MAD 4.70
$1.12COP 4,067
-54.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33MAD 3.07
$0.85COP 3,080
-61.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MAD 5.22
$0.91COP 3,305
-38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18MAD 38.68
$2.33COP 8,477
79.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.31MAD 39.87
$11.13COP 40.5K
-61.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45MAD 22.63
$1.19COP 4,342
105.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86MAD 26.42
$2.37COP 8,617
20.68%
🚌 Getting Around
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MAD 4.73
$0.79COP 2,859
-35.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.45MAD 245
$41.13COP 149.6K
-35.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.12MAD 10.37
$1.44COP 5,223
-22.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.51MAD 4.74
$1.91COP 6,952
-73.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.39MAD 31.31
$8.02COP 29.2K
-57.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MAD 14.32
$0.94COP 3,410
64.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8KMAD 294.4K
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
77.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0KMAD 277.5K
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
12.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$32.16MAD 298
$84.0COP 305.4K
-61.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.90MAD 101
$9.60COP 34.9K
13.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.88MAD 304
$24.16COP 87.9K
36.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.10MAD 251
$25.88COP 94.1K
4.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.46MAD 161
$19.04COP 69.3K
-8.30%
Cinema Ticket
$6.54MAD 60.5
$3.92COP 14.2K
66.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$88.1MAD 815
$306COP 1.1M
-71.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,615MAD 24.2K
$5,919COP 21.5M
-55.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.05MAD 380
$57.9COP 210.6K
-29.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.49MAD 375
$31.82COP 115.7K
27.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.2MAD 621
$99.9COP 363.3K
-32.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.6MAD 570
$107COP 389.7K
-42.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$228MAD 2,108
$487COP 1.8M
-53.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178MAD 1,647
$368COP 1.3M
-51.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$382MAD 3,535
$826COP 3.0M
-53.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$243MAD 2,245
$716COP 2.6M
-66.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,632MAD 15.1K
$2,925COP 10.6M
-44.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$890MAD 8,235
$1,407COP 5.1M
-36.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$490MAD 4,537
$546COP 2.0M
-10.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
13.43
-62.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for El Jadida: April 28, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $228 in El Jadida and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 11% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $20.00 in El Jadida vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $145 vs $190 per month, with El Jadida cheaper across the board.
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
El Jadida vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, El Jadida or Medellin?
El Jadida wins on cost – living expenses run 60% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making El Jadida the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in El Jadida or Medellin?
On paper, Medellin earns 11% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in El Jadida vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $228 in El Jadida versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in El Jadida or Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in El Jadida vs Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in El Jadida – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in El Jadida or Medellin?
At $648 in El Jadida versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in El Jadida but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes El Jadida the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, El Jadida or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but El Jadida delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $648 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes El Jadida hard to pass up.
How safe is El Jadida compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, El Jadida and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find El Jadida gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.