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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $816 per month in Essaouira vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,214 per month in Essaouira vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,613 per month in Essaouira vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Essaouira is about 52% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Essaouira sits 41% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.80 MAD 44.90

$8.03 COP 25.1K

-40.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.41 MAD 182

$48.26 COP 150.8K

-59.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 MAD 72.5

$9.77 COP 30.5K

-20.68%

Cappuccino

$1.48 MAD 13.82

$2.91 COP 9,095

-49.14%

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

$0.48 MAD 4.51

$1.94 COP 6,074

-75.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 MAD 3.68

$1.52 COP 4,754

-74.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.24 MAD 49.03

$3.09 COP 9,663

69.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 MAD 42.76

$5.74 COP 17.9K

-20.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 MAD 8.45

$1.36 COP 4,262

-33.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 MAD 4.81

$2.39 COP 7,460

-78.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.82 MAD 17.01

$1.70 COP 5,314

7.06%

Eggs

$1.69 MAD 15.80

$2.87 COP 8,967

-41.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.60 MAD 80.5

$9.94 COP 31.1K

-13.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.26 MAD 58.5

$10.78 COP 33.7K

-41.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.96 MAD 103

$14.73 COP 46.0K

-25.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.31 MAD 12.29

$4.09 COP 12.8K

-67.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 MAD 11.04

$1.57 COP 4,911

-24.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.69 MAD 6.43

$2.13 COP 6,642

-67.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 MAD 7.50

$2.21 COP 6,917

-63.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.57 MAD 5.37

$2.05 COP 6,396

-72.20%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 MAD 6.75

$1.50 COP 4,700

-52.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 MAD 3.38

$1.19 COP 3,718

-69.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 MAD 5.73

$1.16 COP 3,619

-47.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.98 MAD 37.24

$3.90 COP 12.2K

2.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.56 MAD 61.3

$14.44 COP 45.1K

-54.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 MAD 17.13

$1.58 COP 4,948

15.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 MAD 20.54

$2.83 COP 8,836

-22.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 MAD 8.24

$1.17 COP 3,650

-24.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 242.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 MAD 6.20

$1.28 COP 4,014

-48.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 MAD 5.96

$2.09 COP 6,537

-69.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.62 COP 26.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 MAD 14.04

$1.30 COP 4,056

15.38%

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

$35.5K MAD 331.7K

$27.7K COP 86.4M

28.19%

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

$30.8K MAD 287.9K

$35.5K COP 110.9M

-13.34%

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

$25.43 MAD 238

$176 COP 550.1K

-85.56%

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

$18.07 MAD 169

$13.37 COP 41.8K

35.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.61 MAD 286

$29.89 COP 93.4K

2.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 139.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.3K

Cinema Ticket

$5.49 MAD 51.4

$6.20 COP 19.4K

-11.45%

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

$71.3 MAD 667

$793 COP 2.5M

-91.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,919 MAD 18.0K

$9,019 COP 28.2M

-78.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.05 MAD 281

$85.6 COP 267.5K

-64.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.60 MAD 427

$58.5 COP 182.7K

-22.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.7 MAD 577

$136 COP 425.9K

-54.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.99 MAD 402

$103 COP 322.2K

-58.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$406 MAD 3,801

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-61.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 MAD 3,331

$680 COP 2.1M

-47.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 MAD 9,072

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-51.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 MAD 5,555

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-49.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$268 MAD 2,508

$665 COP 2.1M

-59.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

10.94

-40.59%

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

Last update for Essaouira: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $406 in Essaouira versus $1,060 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 148% 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 $19.00 in Essaouira versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $303 – 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 110%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,224 per month in Essaouira and $2,574 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Essaouira and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 71% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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.