🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $648 in El Jadida versus $1,017 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $992 in El Jadida versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,336 in El Jadida versus $2,188 in Medellin.
🙂Living in El Jadida costs roughly 36% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: El Jadida52% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.80MAD 35.13
$5.95COP 20.8K
-36.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.94MAD 184
$33.33COP 116.3K
-40.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.74MAD 62.4
$7.23COP 25.2K
-6.78%
Cappuccino
$1.57MAD 14.54
$1.63COP 5,687
-3.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44MAD 4.04
$1.09COP 3,821
-59.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34MAD 3.15
$0.73COP 2,548
-53.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.77MAD 25.59
$1.74COP 6,065
59.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27MAD 30.22
$3.23COP 11.3K
1.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89MAD 8.27
$1.05COP 3,662
-15.24%
White Bread(500g)
$0.43MAD 4.02
$1.29COP 4,515
-66.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85MAD 17.08
$1.32COP 4,617
40.15%
Eggs
$1.78MAD 16.50
$2.27COP 7,927
-21.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.88MAD 45.13
$4.35COP 15.2K
12.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.95MAD 36.51
$5.88COP 20.5K
-32.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.78MAD 72.0
$8.61COP 30.0K
-9.64%
Apples(1kg)
$1.51MAD 13.97
$2.25COP 7,844
-32.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27MAD 11.72
$1.07COP 3,733
18.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.71MAD 6.60
$1.52COP 5,322
-53.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.86MAD 7.93
$1.42COP 4,964
-39.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78MAD 7.23
$1.17COP 4,084
-33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50MAD 4.62
$1.17COP 4,077
-57.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.31MAD 2.83
$0.89COP 3,096
-65.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59MAD 5.48
$0.90COP 3,146
-34.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.01MAD 37.06
$2.25COP 7,837
78.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.23MAD 39.14
$11.04COP 38.5K
-61.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46MAD 22.74
$1.14COP 3,977
115.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98MAD 27.55
$2.38COP 8,301
25.21%
🚌 Getting Around
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47MAD 4.32
$0.84COP 2,916
-44.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.62MAD 237
$41.95COP 146.4K
-38.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.08MAD 10.02
$1.41COP 4,912
-23.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52MAD 4.81
$1.90COP 6,634
-72.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.37MAD 31.17
$7.75COP 27.0K
-56.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59MAD 14.70
$1.01COP 3,509
57.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KMAD 299.3K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
84.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9KMAD 277.0K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
13.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$32.82MAD 304
$83.7COP 292.1K
-60.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.79MAD 99.8
$9.45COP 33.0K
14.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.94MAD 314
$24.11COP 84.1K
40.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.17MAD 251
$25.31COP 88.3K
7.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.93MAD 166
$19.14COP 66.8K
-6.32%
Cinema Ticket
$6.64MAD 61.5
$4.10COP 14.3K
61.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$88.5MAD 819
$312COP 1.1M
-71.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,653MAD 24.5K
$5,993COP 20.9M
-55.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.37MAD 374
$58.0COP 202.6K
-30.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.78MAD 368
$32.56COP 113.6K
22.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.2MAD 631
$99.6COP 347.7K
-31.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.4MAD 568
$109COP 378.8K
-43.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$230MAD 2,126
$482COP 1.7M
-52.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176MAD 1,632
$379COP 1.3M
-53.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$377MAD 3,488
$837COP 2.9M
-54.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$246MAD 2,271
$723COP 2.5M
-66.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,611MAD 14.9K
$2,840COP 9.9M
-43.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$830MAD 7,681
$1,223COP 4.3M
-32.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$484MAD 4,473
$541COP 1.9M
-10.59%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $230 in El Jadida and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 12% 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 $146 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 57% 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 12% 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: $230 in El Jadida versus $482 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 30% 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 $1,017 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 57% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.