Cost of Living Comparison Between Laayoune and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Laayoune and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $627 per month in Laayoune vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,026 per month in Laayoune vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,425 per month in Laayoune vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Laayoune is about 38% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Laayoune and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Laayoune 53% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.90 MAD 36.11

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-34.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.17 MAD 270

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-12.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.72 MAD 43.65

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-34.72%

Cappuccino

$1.61 MAD 14.91

$1.63 COP 5,687

-1.23%

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

$0.48 MAD 4.48

$1.09 COP 3,821

-55.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 MAD 2.95

$0.73 COP 2,548

-56.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.45 MAD 31.88

$1.74 COP 6,065

98.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 MAD 42.26

$3.23 COP 11.3K

41.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 MAD 7.72

$1.05 COP 3,662

-20.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 MAD 5.47

$1.29 COP 4,515

-54.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MAD 17.55

$1.32 COP 4,617

43.94%

Eggs

$1.37 MAD 12.64

$2.27 COP 7,927

-39.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.62 MAD 107

$4.35 COP 15.2K

167.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 MAD 32.66

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-39.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.12 MAD 84.3

$8.61 COP 30.0K

5.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 MAD 14.24

$2.25 COP 7,844

-31.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 MAD 10.91

$1.07 COP 3,733

10.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 MAD 6.53

$1.52 COP 5,322

-53.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 MAD 5.11

$1.42 COP 4,964

-61.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.44 MAD 4.10

$1.17 COP 4,084

-62.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 MAD 3.33

$1.17 COP 4,077

-69.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MAD 8.79

$0.89 COP 3,096

6.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MAD 5.48

$0.90 COP 3,146

-34.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 MAD 31.94

$2.38 COP 8,301

44.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.59 MAD 5.49

$0.84 COP 2,916

-29.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.44 MAD 106

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-72.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 MAD 6.96

$1.41 COP 4,912

-46.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 MAD 6.46

$1.90 COP 6,634

-63.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 MAD 11.50

$1.01 COP 3,509

22.77%

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

$39.0K MAD 360.8K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

121.86%

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

$26.9K MAD 249.1K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

1.64%

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

$33.13 MAD 307

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-60.41%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.13 MAD 205

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-8.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.45 MAD 217

$25.31 COP 88.3K

-7.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.92 MAD 323

$19.14 COP 66.8K

82.45%

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 MAD 31.86

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-16.10%

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

$293 MAD 2,709

$312 COP 1.1M

-6.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,405 MAD 31.5K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-43.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.29 MAD 326

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-39.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 MAD 541

$32.56 COP 113.6K

79.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 MAD 684

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-25.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.8 MAD 747

$109 COP 378.8K

-25.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$347 MAD 3,207

$482 COP 1.7M

-28.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 MAD 1,593

$379 COP 1.3M

-54.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$685 MAD 6,334

$837 COP 2.9M

-18.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 MAD 2,677

$723 COP 2.5M

-59.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Laayoune: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $347 in Laayoune versus $482 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Laayoune versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $147 vs $190 – making Laayoune 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

Laayoune vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 62%, 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 $940 per month in Laayoune and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 29% 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 $29.00 in Laayoune 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 Laayoune, where all-in costs run around $627, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Laayoune it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Laayoune – 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 Laayoune. 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.