Cost of Living Comparison Between Machala and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Machala and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $644 in Machala versus $1,013 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,017 in Machala versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,389 in Machala versus $2,192 in Medellin.

Living in Machala costs roughly 36% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Machala 52% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.46 $2.46

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-58.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.80 $24.80

$32.86 COP 117.4K

-24.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 $6.71

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-5.36%

Cappuccino

$2.53 $2.53

$1.71 COP 6,115

47.95%

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

$0.73 $0.73

$1.10 COP 3,924

-33.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.78 COP 2,781

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 $1.96

$1.68 COP 5,997

16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.56 $4.56

$3.07 COP 11.0K

48.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 $1.05

$1.09 COP 3,906

-3.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.26 COP 4,508

-14.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 $0.91

$1.38 COP 4,922

-34.06%

Eggs

$1.51 $1.51

$2.19 COP 7,827

-31.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.21 $3.21

$4.40 COP 15.7K

-27.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.99 $3.99

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-29.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.72 $4.72

$8.89 COP 31.8K

-46.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.34 COP 8,349

-8.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.06 COP 3,777

2.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.50 COP 5,374

-49.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.38 COP 4,924

-25.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.42 $0.42

$1.15 COP 4,111

-63.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 $0.52

$1.16 COP 4,155

-55.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 $0.37

$0.89 COP 3,182

-58.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.84 COP 2,997

22.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.30 $4.30

$2.28 COP 8,145

88.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.66 $7.66

$10.64 COP 38.0K

-28.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.20 COP 4,284

29.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.47 COP 8,824

-14.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 $0.33

$0.86 COP 3,056

-61.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.00 $24.00

$41.40 COP 147.9K

-42.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.47 COP 5,264

3.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.01 $1.01

$1.96 COP 7,009

-48.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.94 $7.94

$7.74 COP 27.6K

2.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 $0.60

$0.95 COP 3,409

-36.84%

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

$18.2K $18.2K

$18.1K COP 64.7M

0.57%

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

$22.4K $22.4K

$26.5K COP 94.6M

-15.47%

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

$37.11 $37.11

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-54.88%

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

$13.67 $13.67

$9.50 COP 33.9K

43.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.63 $26.63

$24.23 COP 86.5K

9.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.17 $42.17

$25.89 COP 92.4K

62.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.38 $14.38

$19.00 COP 67.9K

-24.32%

Cinema Ticket

$4.97 $4.97

$3.93 COP 14.0K

26.46%

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

$138 $138

$309 COP 1.1M

-55.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,862 $5,862

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-1.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-11.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.56 $42.56

$32.35 COP 115.5K

31.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.8 $79.8

$103 COP 366.4K

-22.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.7 $67.7

$108 COP 387.2K

-37.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$190 $190

$476 COP 1.7M

-60.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$132 $132

$379 COP 1.4M

-65.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$350 $350

$838 COP 3.0M

-58.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$255 $255

$724 COP 2.6M

-64.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,365 $1,365

$2,791 COP 10.0M

-51.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$709 $709

$1,211 COP 4.3M

-41.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$457 $457

$512 COP 1.8M

-10.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-62.77%

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

Last update for Machala: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $190 in Machala and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 12% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $25.00 in Machala vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $144 vs $188 per month, with Machala cheaper across the board.

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

Machala vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Machala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 57% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Medellin earns 12% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $190 in Machala versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Machala – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $644 per month in Machala versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $644 in Machala versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Machala but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Machala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Machala is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Machala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.