Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Maastricht and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,692 a month against $2,656 in Maastricht, rent and utilities included – about $11,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Maastricht, Netherlands
Medellin, Colombia
Maastricht
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,656
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Maastricht and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Maastricht and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,656 per month in Maastricht vs $1,692 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Maastricht $2,656
  • Medellin $1,692

A couple spends around $3,753 per month in Maastricht vs $2,471 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Maastricht $3,753
  • Medellin $2,471

A family of three spends $4,850 per month in Maastricht vs $3,249 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Maastricht $4,850
  • Medellin $3,249

Maastricht costs about 57% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Maastricht and Medellin sit above the global median – Maastricht by 96%, Medellin by 25%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maastricht
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.73 €17.53
$8.34 COP 27.0K
136.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.9 €79.9
$46.53 COP 150.9K
93.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.41 €11.02
$9.47 COP 30.7K
31.05%
Cappuccino
$4.36 €3.87
$3.13 COP 10.2K
39.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.84 €3.41
$1.77 COP 5,727
116.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 €2.71
$1.42 COP 4,619
114.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.57 €7.61
$3.15 COP 10.2K
172.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.57 €4.95
$5.70 COP 18.5K
-2.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maastricht
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 €1.14
$1.53 COP 4,969
-16.34%
White Bread (500g)
$2.41 €2.14
$2.29 COP 7,429
5.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.60 €2.31
$1.94 COP 6,306
34.02%
Eggs
$4.56 €4.05
$3.07 COP 9,942
48.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.84 €13.18
$9.99 COP 32.4K
48.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.95 €12.39
$10.45 COP 33.9K
33.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.63 €13.89
$13.96 COP 45.3K
11.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.66 €2.36
$4.05 COP 13.1K
-34.32%
Banana (1kg)
$2.52 €2.24
$1.53 COP 4,956
64.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 €1.67
$2.10 COP 6,823
-10.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.47 €3.98
$2.29 COP 7,437
95.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 €1.74
$2.11 COP 6,839
-7.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 €2.04
$1.71 COP 5,542
34.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 €1.19
$1.17 COP 3,794
14.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 €0.69
$1.58 COP 5,123
-50.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.84 €12.30
$3.91 COP 12.7K
253.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.79 €6.03
$14.04 COP 45.5K
-51.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 €1.31
$1.76 COP 5,712
-16.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 €2.40
$2.71 COP 8,793
-0.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Maastricht
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.00 €3.55
$1.18 COP 3,825
238.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.6 €79.6
$76.3 COP 247.4K
17.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.94 €4.39
$1.81 COP 5,859
172.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.51 €3.11
$2.13 COP 6,904
64.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$67.7 €60.1
$8.13 COP 26.4K
732.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.36 €2.10
$1.28 COP 4,135
84.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.9K €37.2K
$34.4K COP 111.7M
21.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.8K
$34.1K COP 110.7M
14.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maastricht
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$292 €260
$178 COP 576.3K
64.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.83 €14.95
$13.89 COP 45.0K
21.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.19 €43.69
$30.74 COP 99.7K
60.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maastricht
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.95 €37.27
$41.94 COP 136.0K
0.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.89 €24.77
$16.80 COP 54.5K
66.01%
Cinema Ticket
$15.55 €13.81
$7.47 COP 24.2K
108.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maastricht
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,094
$790 COP 2.6M
55.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K €11.7K
$12.3K COP 39.9M
7.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maastricht
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.8 €71.8
$86.3 COP 279.9K
-6.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.07 €33.82
$59.3 COP 192.2K
-35.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 €99.2
$138 COP 448.6K
-19.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 €114
$98.8 COP 320.4K
30.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maastricht
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,445 €1,284
$1,341 COP 4.3M
7.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,269 €1,127
$667 COP 2.2M
90.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,312 €2,054
$1,976 COP 6.4M
17.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,776 €1,578
$1,033 COP 3.3M
71.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,381 €4,780
$4,098 COP 13.3M
31.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,770 €3,349
$1,940 COP 6.3M
94.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maastricht
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,369 €2,993
$646 COP 2.1M
421.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.42
10.94
-59.60%

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

Last update for Maastricht: November 3, 2026

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Maastricht
$1.3K
Medellin
$667 47.4% $602
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maastricht
$358
Medellin
$222 38% $136
Groceries & Markets
Maastricht
$337
Medellin
$307 8.7% $29
Eating Out
Maastricht
$329
Medellin
$173 47.5% $156
Clothing & Footwear
Maastricht
$162
Medellin
$172 6.5% $11
Getting Around
Maastricht
$128
Medellin
$93 27% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Maastricht
$73
Medellin
$57 22.1% $16

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,445 in Maastricht versus $1,341 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 in Maastricht are about 5.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $90 in Maastricht versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $337 vs $307 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇱 Maastricht
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
18:49 6:49 PM
12:49 12:49 PM
6 h behind Maastricht
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
120,105
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 0.888 EUR (1 EUR = 1.13 USD).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 3,242 COP (10,000 COP = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 3,635 COP (10,000 COP = 2.75 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Maastricht Medellin 8,860 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Maastricht
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Maastricht vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Maastricht or Medellin?
Maastricht costs about 57% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Maastricht and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,983 per month in Maastricht and $2,538 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Maastricht compared to Medellin?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $1,445 in Maastricht and $1,341 in Medellin. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
How much does it cost to live in Maastricht compared to Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,656 in Maastricht and $1,692 in Medellin. That makes Medellin about 36% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Maastricht compared to Medellin?
Public transport costs about 15% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Maastricht or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,692, than in Maastricht at $2,656. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Maastricht it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Maastricht or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,692 versus $2,656 in Maastricht. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Maastricht or to Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Maastricht makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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