🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $651 in El Jadida versus $1,641 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $967 in El Jadida versus $2,447 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,282 in El Jadida versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in El Jadida costs roughly 60% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: El Jadida is 53% below, Medellin is 19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.87MAD 27.01
$8.04COP 24.8K
-64.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.20MAD 199
$48.29COP 148.6K
-56.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.21MAD 58.4
$9.42COP 29.0K
-34.08%
Cappuccino
$1.59MAD 14.96
$2.94COP 9,040
-45.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47MAD 4.43
$1.86COP 5,735
-74.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29MAD 2.68
$1.46COP 4,479
-80.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.79MAD 26.24
$3.21COP 9,882
-13.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63MAD 24.67
$5.71COP 17.6K
-53.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.96MAD 9.01
$1.44COP 4,428
-33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.42MAD 3.92
$2.40COP 7,389
-82.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97MAD 18.53
$1.70COP 5,228
15.88%
Eggs
$1.94MAD 18.19
$2.89COP 8,896
-32.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.56MAD 61.6
$10.06COP 30.9K
-34.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.20MAD 39.49
$9.97COP 30.7K
-57.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.20MAD 77.0
$14.20COP 43.7K
-42.25%
Apples(1kg)
$1.59MAD 14.94
$3.98COP 12.3K
-60.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47MAD 13.84
$1.58COP 4,878
-6.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.72MAD 6.74
$2.15COP 6,624
-66.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.67MAD 6.32
$2.30COP 7,078
-70.87%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69MAD 6.46
$2.00COP 6,169
-65.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.48MAD 4.48
$1.51COP 4,646
-68.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33MAD 3.14
$1.20COP 3,701
-72.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54MAD 5.07
$1.28COP 3,946
-57.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.98MAD 37.44
$3.84COP 11.8K
3.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.15MAD 38.99
$14.01COP 43.1K
-70.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61MAD 24.52
$1.71COP 5,256
52.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02MAD 28.42
$2.74COP 8,440
10.22%
🚌 Getting Around
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47MAD 4.38
$1.25COP 3,834
-62.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.20MAD 162
$77.9COP 239.7K
-77.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.08MAD 10.17
$1.31COP 4,016
-17.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09MAD 10.25
$2.17COP 6,680
-49.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.46MAD 51.3
$8.29COP 25.5K
-34.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.56MAD 14.65
$1.36COP 4,172
14.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9KMAD 327.8K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
26.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2KMAD 293.1K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-14.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$29.29MAD 275
$169COP 519.2K
-82.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.52MAD 98.9
$13.57COP 41.8K
-22.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.46MAD 305
$28.32COP 87.2K
14.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.84MAD 280
$45.71COP 140.7K
-34.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.61MAD 118
$17.22COP 53.0K
-26.77%
Cinema Ticket
$6.58MAD 61.8
$6.65COP 20.5K
-1.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$116MAD 1,086
$803COP 2.5M
-85.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,239MAD 30.4K
$9,190COP 28.3M
-64.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.85MAD 271
$87.4COP 268.8K
-66.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.71MAD 354
$59.4COP 182.7K
-36.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.7MAD 627
$139COP 427.5K
-51.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0MAD 695
$102COP 314.0K
-27.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$211MAD 1,987
$1,071COP 3.3M
-80.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173MAD 1,624
$653COP 2.0M
-73.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$369MAD 3,465
$1,925COP 5.9M
-80.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237MAD 2,227
$1,048COP 3.2M
-77.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,570MAD 14.8K
$4,123COP 12.7M
-61.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$818MAD 7,688
$1,697COP 5.2M
-51.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Jadida
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$482MAD 4,530
$655COP 2.0M
-26.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.5
10.94
-49.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for El Jadida: September 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $211 in El Jadida and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 36% 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: $21.00 in El Jadida vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $156 vs $300 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 152% 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 36% 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: $211 in El Jadida versus $1,071 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 93% 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 $21.00 versus $48.00 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 $1,641 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 152% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.