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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $837 per month in Essaouira vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,254 per month in Essaouira vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,671 per month in Essaouira vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Essaouira is about 19% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Essaouira and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Essaouira 37% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.36 MAD 40.68

$6.16 COP 20.0K

-29.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.14 MAD 234

$32.60 COP 106.0K

-22.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 MAD 46.37

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-32.29%

Cappuccino

$1.76 MAD 16.37

$1.72 COP 5,592

2.33%

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

$0.46 MAD 4.26

$1.05 COP 3,416

-56.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 MAD 2.41

$0.77 COP 2,511

-66.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.79 MAD 35.36

$1.69 COP 5,480

124.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 MAD 34.69

$3.17 COP 10.3K

17.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 MAD 7.87

$1.05 COP 3,418

-20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 MAD 4.57

$1.30 COP 4,230

-62.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 MAD 15.43

$1.40 COP 4,538

17.86%

Eggs

$1.81 MAD 16.90

$2.16 COP 7,037

-16.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.24 MAD 86.1

$4.39 COP 14.3K

110.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.29 MAD 49.31

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-10.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 MAD 107

$8.64 COP 28.1K

32.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 MAD 13.21

$2.28 COP 7,415

-37.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 MAD 11.42

$1.11 COP 3,599

9.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.72 MAD 6.69

$1.53 COP 4,976

-52.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 MAD 8.22

$1.35 COP 4,405

-34.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 MAD 6.52

$1.13 COP 3,669

-38.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 MAD 8.48

$1.13 COP 3,687

-19.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 MAD 3.66

$0.85 COP 2,749

-54.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MAD 4.97

$0.91 COP 2,971

-41.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MAD 38.66

$2.34 COP 7,619

77.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.45 MAD 60.1

$12.37 COP 40.2K

-47.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 MAD 18.03

$1.20 COP 3,904

60.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 MAD 20.52

$2.49 COP 8,094

-11.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 MAD 8.11

$0.84 COP 2,724

3.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.46 MAD 154

$40.57 COP 131.9K

-59.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.63 MAD 5.92

$1.42 COP 4,617

-55.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MAD 4.43

$1.92 COP 6,227

-75.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.98 MAD 83.8

$7.66 COP 24.9K

17.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 MAD 14.70

$0.99 COP 3,219

59.60%

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

$37.2K MAD 346.5K

$18.0K COP 58.6M

106.10%

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

$21.1K MAD 196.4K

$26.6K COP 86.6M

-20.91%

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

$27.86 MAD 260

$80.8 COP 262.7K

-65.52%

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

$13.90 MAD 130

$9.95 COP 32.3K

39.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.94 MAD 261

$24.18 COP 78.6K

15.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.61 MAD 202

$25.08 COP 81.5K

-13.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.76 MAD 212

$19.15 COP 62.3K

18.85%

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 MAD 62.0

$3.98 COP 13.0K

67.09%

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

$75.3 MAD 702

$305 COP 992.2K

-75.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,956 MAD 18.2K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-67.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.88 MAD 288

$58.1 COP 189.0K

-46.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.68 MAD 370

$32.20 COP 104.7K

23.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.28 MAD 460

$101 COP 327.5K

-51.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.34 MAD 413

$108 COP 350.3K

-58.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MAD 3,617

$477 COP 1.5M

-18.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 MAD 3,229

$376 COP 1.2M

-7.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$813 MAD 7,584

$845 COP 2.7M

-3.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 MAD 5,209

$730 COP 2.4M

-23.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$268 MAD 2,498

$617 COP 2.0M

-56.56%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $388 in Essaouira versus $477 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 130% 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: $176 vs $193 – 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 23%, 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 $1,256 per month in Essaouira and $1,546 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 10% 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 $837, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.