😐A single person spends $1,634 per month in Marsascala vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,629 per month in Marsascala vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,623 per month in Marsascala vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Marsascala costs about 61% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Marsascala sits 22% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.57€17.72
$5.95COP 20.8K
245.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.1€80.2
$33.33COP 116.3K
179.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.70€10.08
$7.23COP 25.2K
61.83%
Cappuccino
$2.32€2.00
$1.63COP 5,687
42.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14€1.84
$1.09COP 3,821
96.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48€1.27
$0.73COP 2,548
102.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.38€2.91
$1.74COP 6,065
94.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95€2.54
$3.23COP 11.3K
-8.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26€1.08
$1.05COP 3,662
20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60€0.52
$1.29COP 4,515
-53.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.30€3.70
$1.32COP 4,617
225.76%
Eggs
$4.52€3.89
$2.27COP 7,927
99.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.41€8.97
$4.35COP 15.2K
139.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63€4.85
$5.88COP 20.5K
-4.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.18€12.22
$8.61COP 30.0K
64.69%
Apples(1kg)
$3.52€3.03
$2.25COP 7,844
56.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.07COP 3,733
64.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.22€2.78
$1.52COP 5,322
111.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.49€2.14
$1.42COP 4,964
75.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.60€2.24
$1.17COP 4,084
122.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.29€1.11
$1.17COP 4,077
10.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.31€1.99
$0.89COP 3,096
159.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70€0.61
$0.90COP 3,146
-22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.40€5.51
$2.25COP 7,837
184.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.12€6.14
$11.04COP 38.5K
-35.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19€1.02
$1.14COP 3,977
4.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.53
$2.38COP 8,301
-25.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.77€2.38
$0.84COP 2,916
229.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.73€4.94
$1.41COP 4,912
306.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.03€1.75
$1.90COP 6,634
6.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$50.0€43.11
$7.75COP 27.0K
545.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57€1.35
$1.01COP 3,509
55.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K€32.9K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
116.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.9K€12.0K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-47.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$93.1€80.2
$83.7COP 292.1K
11.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.89€24.03
$9.45COP 33.0K
195.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.35€25.29
$24.11COP 84.1K
21.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.8€44.65
$25.31COP 88.3K
104.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.31€16.63
$19.14COP 66.8K
0.89%
Cinema Ticket
$10.55€9.09
$4.10COP 14.3K
157.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$432€372
$312COP 1.1M
38.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0K€9,517
$5,993COP 20.9M
84.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.7€79.0
$58.0COP 202.6K
57.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.80€19.65
$32.56COP 113.6K
-29.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.5€65.1
$99.6COP 347.7K
-24.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.6€47.88
$109COP 378.8K
-48.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$874€753
$482COP 1.7M
81.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$756€651
$379COP 1.3M
99.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,543€1,329
$837COP 2.9M
84.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,305€1,125
$723COP 2.5M
80.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,929€2,524
$2,840COP 9.9M
3.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,401€2,069
$1,223COP 4.3M
96.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,171€1,871
$541COP 1.9M
301.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.46
13.43
-66.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Marsascala: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $874 in Marsascala 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.
💰Salaries run about 301% higher in Marsascala, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $93.0 in Marsascala versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $261 vs $190 – making Medellin 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
Marsascala vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Marsascala?
Yes – Marsascala is pricier by about 61%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,451 per month in Marsascala and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Marsascala or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $93.0 in Marsascala and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Marsascala and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 38% more in Marsascala, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Marsascala or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Marsascala at $1,634. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Marsascala it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Marsascala or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Marsascala or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Marsascala makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Marsascala vs other spots: cost of living compared