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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $641 per month in Laayoune vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,012 per month in Laayoune vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,384 per month in Laayoune vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Laayoune is about 36% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Laayoune and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Laayoune 52% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 MAD 37.05

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-32.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.09 MAD 271

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-11.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.74 MAD 44.18

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-36.20%

Cappuccino

$1.61 MAD 15.00

$1.65 COP 5,207

-2.42%

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

$0.52 MAD 4.83

$1.10 COP 3,468

-52.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 MAD 3.22

$0.78 COP 2,458

-55.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 MAD 31.69

$1.72 COP 5,412

97.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 MAD 44.22

$3.18 COP 10.0K

49.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 MAD 7.27

$1.10 COP 3,474

-29.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 MAD 5.26

$1.26 COP 3,962

-55.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.86 MAD 17.37

$1.38 COP 4,349

34.78%

Eggs

$1.41 MAD 13.16

$2.18 COP 6,858

-35.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.47 MAD 107

$4.49 COP 14.1K

155.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 MAD 31.95

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-40.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.15 MAD 85.3

$8.97 COP 28.2K

2.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 MAD 14.11

$2.32 COP 7,308

-34.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.13 MAD 10.54

$1.06 COP 3,352

6.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 MAD 6.25

$1.52 COP 4,774

-55.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 MAD 5.21

$1.36 COP 4,270

-58.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 MAD 4.48

$1.13 COP 3,552

-57.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.34 MAD 3.13

$1.17 COP 3,689

-70.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MAD 8.48

$0.90 COP 2,838

1.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MAD 5.28

$0.90 COP 2,823

-36.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 MAD 31.57

$2.48 COP 7,815

36.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 MAD 5.61

$0.85 COP 2,687

-29.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.64 MAD 109

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-72.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 MAD 6.77

$1.42 COP 4,459

-48.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 MAD 6.11

$1.95 COP 6,141

-66.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 MAD 11.45

$0.99 COP 3,118

24.24%

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

$38.8K MAD 361.9K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

120.50%

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

$26.7K MAD 249.2K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-0.26%

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

$32.21 MAD 300

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-61.20%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.47 MAD 210

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-4.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.78 MAD 212

$25.26 COP 79.5K

-9.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.05 MAD 317

$19.10 COP 60.1K

78.27%

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 MAD 31.67

$3.95 COP 12.4K

-13.92%

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

$286 MAD 2,667

$316 COP 994.2K

-9.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,476 MAD 32.4K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-41.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.07 MAD 318

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-43.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.9 MAD 540

$31.82 COP 100.2K

82.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 MAD 702

$102 COP 320.1K

-25.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.6 MAD 770

$107 COP 338.3K

-23.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$349 MAD 3,255

$475 COP 1.5M

-26.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 MAD 1,643

$374 COP 1.2M

-52.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$685 MAD 6,385

$849 COP 2.7M

-19.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$293 MAD 2,734

$719 COP 2.3M

-59.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $349 in Laayoune versus $475 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: $145 vs $193 – 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 56%, 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 $962 per month in Laayoune and $1,504 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 34% 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 $641, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.