🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $651 in El Jadida versus $1,003 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $987 in El Jadida versus $1,573 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,322 in El Jadida versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in El Jadida costs roughly 35% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: El Jadida51% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.86MAD 36.24
$5.91COP 18.9K
-34.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.63MAD 184
$32.96COP 105.2K
-40.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.52MAD 61.2
$7.43COP 23.7K
-12.25%
Cappuccino
$1.52MAD 14.29
$1.65COP 5,276
-7.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44MAD 4.13
$1.10COP 3,514
-60.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34MAD 3.22
$0.78COP 2,491
-56.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.74MAD 25.70
$1.72COP 5,484
59.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37MAD 31.66
$3.18COP 10.1K
5.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84MAD 7.85
$1.10COP 3,521
-23.64%
White Bread(500g)
$0.46MAD 4.33
$1.26COP 4,015
-63.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82MAD 17.11
$1.38COP 4,407
31.88%
Eggs
$1.76MAD 16.49
$2.18COP 6,950
-19.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.03MAD 47.21
$4.49COP 14.3K
12.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80MAD 35.63
$5.79COP 18.5K
-34.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.05MAD 75.5
$8.97COP 28.6K
-10.26%
Apples(1kg)
$1.50MAD 14.09
$2.32COP 7,405
-35.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33MAD 12.52
$1.06COP 3,397
25.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.71MAD 6.66
$1.52COP 4,838
-53.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.78MAD 7.36
$1.36COP 4,327
-42.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74MAD 6.90
$1.13COP 3,599
-34.51%
Onion(1kg)
$0.54MAD 5.09
$1.17COP 3,738
-53.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33MAD 3.13
$0.90COP 2,876
-63.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MAD 5.59
$0.90COP 2,861
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03MAD 37.83
$2.23COP 7,128
80.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.17MAD 39.14
$12.12COP 38.7K
-65.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45MAD 22.98
$1.19COP 3,793
105.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87MAD 26.90
$2.48COP 7,920
15.73%
🚌 Getting Around
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MAD 4.78
$0.85COP 2,723
-40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.48MAD 248
$41.62COP 132.8K
-36.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.12MAD 10.55
$1.42COP 4,518
-21.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48MAD 4.46
$1.95COP 6,223
-75.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.22MAD 30.18
$7.89COP 25.2K
-59.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53MAD 14.31
$0.99COP 3,160
54.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KMAD 302.6K
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
83.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KMAD 273.7K
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
8.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$32.73MAD 307
$83.0COP 264.9K
-60.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.92MAD 102
$9.70COP 30.9K
12.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.17MAD 311
$23.52COP 75.0K
41.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.84MAD 261
$25.26COP 80.6K
10.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.97MAD 169
$19.10COP 60.9K
-5.92%
Cinema Ticket
$6.76MAD 63.5
$3.95COP 12.6K
71.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$87.4MAD 820
$316COP 1.0M
-72.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,616MAD 24.6K
$5,975COP 19.1M
-56.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.75MAD 382
$60.0COP 191.4K
-32.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.07MAD 376
$31.82COP 101.5K
25.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.7MAD 635
$102COP 324.4K
-33.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.2MAD 574
$107COP 342.8K
-43.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$231MAD 2,170
$475COP 1.5M
-51.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178MAD 1,674
$374COP 1.2M
-52.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$383MAD 3,597
$849COP 2.7M
-54.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$241MAD 2,262
$719COP 2.3M
-66.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,590MAD 14.9K
$3,265COP 10.4M
-51.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$830MAD 7,789
$1,441COP 4.6M
-42.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$472MAD 4,427
$624COP 2.0M
-24.44%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $231 in El Jadida and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 32% 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 $193 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 54% 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 in Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 32% lower in Medellin. 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 compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $231 in El Jadida versus $475 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 in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 32% 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 and in 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 in Medellin?
At $651 in El Jadida versus $1,003 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 $651 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 54% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.