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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $642 per month in Laayoune vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,013 per month in Laayoune vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,385 per month in Laayoune vs $2,120 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 52% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.79 MAD 35.08

$5.92 COP 21.4K

-35.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.20 MAD 270

$32.75 COP 118.2K

-10.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MAD 42.45

$7.20 COP 26.0K

-36.25%

Cappuccino

$1.59 MAD 14.72

$1.70 COP 6,140

-6.47%

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

$0.48 MAD 4.44

$1.10 COP 3,966

-56.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 MAD 2.91

$0.72 COP 2,605

-56.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 MAD 31.43

$1.67 COP 6,022

103.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MAD 43.31

$3.10 COP 11.2K

50.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 MAD 7.21

$1.06 COP 3,809

-26.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 MAD 5.50

$1.25 COP 4,497

-52.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 MAD 17.53

$1.39 COP 5,022

35.97%

Eggs

$1.37 MAD 12.68

$2.26 COP 8,168

-39.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.64 MAD 108

$4.33 COP 15.6K

168.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 MAD 31.38

$5.84 COP 21.1K

-41.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.05 MAD 83.8

$8.83 COP 31.9K

2.49%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 MAD 14.28

$2.24 COP 8,099

-31.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 MAD 10.99

$1.08 COP 3,882

10.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 MAD 6.24

$1.53 COP 5,522

-56.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 MAD 5.20

$1.37 COP 4,950

-59.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 MAD 4.37

$1.13 COP 4,078

-58.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 MAD 3.35

$1.12 COP 4,036

-67.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MAD 8.25

$0.85 COP 3,057

4.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MAD 5.10

$0.91 COP 3,281

-39.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 MAD 32.36

$2.37 COP 8,553

47.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 MAD 5.17

$0.79 COP 2,838

-29.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.44 MAD 106

$41.13 COP 148.5K

-72.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.71 MAD 6.54

$1.44 COP 5,184

-50.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 MAD 6.34

$1.91 COP 6,901

-63.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 MAD 11.90

$0.94 COP 3,385

37.23%

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

$38.8K MAD 359.4K

$17.9K COP 64.7M

116.78%

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

$26.4K MAD 244.5K

$26.8K COP 96.7M

-1.35%

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

$32.41 MAD 300

$84.0 COP 303.1K

-61.40%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.36 MAD 207

$24.16 COP 87.2K

-7.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.75 MAD 210

$25.88 COP 93.4K

-12.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.12 MAD 325

$19.04 COP 68.7K

84.45%

Cinema Ticket

$3.50 MAD 32.35

$3.92 COP 14.1K

-10.71%

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

$295 MAD 2,728

$306 COP 1.1M

-3.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,407 MAD 31.5K

$5,919 COP 21.4M

-42.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.06 MAD 315

$57.9 COP 209.1K

-41.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.7 MAD 533

$31.82 COP 114.9K

81.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 MAD 704

$99.9 COP 360.6K

-23.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.0 MAD 740

$107 COP 386.8K

-25.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 MAD 3,270

$487 COP 1.8M

-27.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 MAD 1,577

$368 COP 1.3M

-53.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 MAD 6,408

$826 COP 3.0M

-16.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 MAD 2,657

$716 COP 2.6M

-59.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $354 in Laayoune versus $487 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: $146 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 61%, 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 $1,550 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 30% 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 $642, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.