Cost of Living Comparison Between Essaouira and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Essaouira and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $810 per month in Essaouira vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,226 per month in Essaouira vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,642 per month in Essaouira vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Essaouira is about 20% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Essaouira and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Essaouira 40% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.34 MAD 39.86

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-27.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.74 MAD 227

$32.86 COP 117.4K

-24.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.99 MAD 45.88

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-29.62%

Cappuccino

$1.84 MAD 16.91

$1.71 COP 6,115

7.60%

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

$0.45 MAD 4.13

$1.10 COP 3,924

-59.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 MAD 2.36

$0.78 COP 2,781

-66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.85 MAD 35.40

$1.68 COP 5,997

129.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 MAD 32.83

$3.07 COP 11.0K

16.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 MAD 7.80

$1.09 COP 3,906

-22.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 MAD 4.90

$1.26 COP 4,508

-57.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.69 MAD 15.57

$1.38 COP 4,922

22.46%

Eggs

$1.80 MAD 16.52

$2.19 COP 7,827

-17.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.59 MAD 88.1

$4.40 COP 15.7K

117.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.34 MAD 49.08

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-5.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.51 MAD 106

$8.89 COP 31.8K

29.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 MAD 12.55

$2.34 COP 8,349

-41.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 MAD 11.70

$1.06 COP 3,777

19.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.72 MAD 6.59

$1.50 COP 5,374

-52.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.93 MAD 8.56

$1.38 COP 4,924

-32.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 MAD 6.36

$1.15 COP 4,111

-40.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 MAD 8.47

$1.16 COP 4,155

-20.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 MAD 3.60

$0.89 COP 3,182

-56.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MAD 4.92

$0.84 COP 2,997

-35.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.07 MAD 37.43

$2.28 COP 8,145

78.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.61 MAD 60.8

$10.64 COP 38.0K

-37.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 MAD 17.76

$1.20 COP 4,284

60.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 MAD 19.83

$2.47 COP 8,824

-12.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 MAD 8.25

$0.86 COP 3,056

4.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.40 MAD 151

$41.40 COP 147.9K

-60.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 MAD 6.26

$1.47 COP 5,264

-53.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MAD 4.72

$1.96 COP 7,009

-73.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.69 MAD 79.8

$7.74 COP 27.6K

12.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 MAD 14.54

$0.95 COP 3,409

66.32%

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

$37.6K MAD 345.7K

$18.1K COP 64.7M

107.48%

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

$21.0K MAD 193.3K

$26.5K COP 94.6M

-20.57%

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

$28.04 MAD 258

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-65.91%

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

$13.82 MAD 127

$9.50 COP 33.9K

45.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.65 MAD 263

$24.23 COP 86.5K

18.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.11 MAD 203

$25.89 COP 92.4K

-14.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.63 MAD 217

$19.00 COP 67.9K

24.37%

Cinema Ticket

$6.71 MAD 61.7

$3.93 COP 14.0K

70.74%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$75.6 MAD 695

$309 COP 1.1M

-75.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,990 MAD 18.3K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-66.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.43 MAD 289

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-46.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.79 MAD 366

$32.35 COP 115.5K

23.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.84 MAD 449

$103 COP 366.4K

-52.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.20 MAD 406

$108 COP 387.2K

-59.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MAD 3,563

$476 COP 1.7M

-18.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 MAD 3,173

$379 COP 1.4M

-8.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$795 MAD 7,308

$838 COP 3.0M

-5.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$545 MAD 5,011

$724 COP 2.6M

-24.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$268 MAD 2,462

$512 COP 1.8M

-47.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

13.43

-59.05%

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

Last update for Essaouira: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $388 in Essaouira versus $476 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 91% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Essaouira versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $188 – making Essaouira the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Essaouira vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 25%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,215 per month in Essaouira and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Essaouira, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Essaouira and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $810, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Essaouira it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Essaouira – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Essaouira. 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.