Cost of Living Comparison Between Marsascala and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Marsascala and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,771 per month in Marsascala vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,713 per month in Marsascala vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,655 per month in Marsascala vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Marsascala costs about 5% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Marsascala and Medellin sit above the global median – Marsascala by 29%, Medellin by 23%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.05 €17.47
$8.02 COP 25.0K
150.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.2 €77.7
$47.87 COP 149.4K
86.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.01 €12.22
$9.89 COP 30.8K
41.66%
Cappuccino
$2.26 €1.97
$3.13 COP 9,767
-27.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.13
$1.91 COP 5,954
28.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.20
$1.51 COP 4,712
-9.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.13 €3.60
$3.12 COP 9,747
32.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 €2.94
$5.75 COP 17.9K
-41.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 €1.11
$1.44 COP 4,509
-11.11%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 €0.77
$2.49 COP 7,759
-64.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.37 €2.94
$1.77 COP 5,535
90.40%
Eggs
$4.26 €3.72
$2.96 COP 9,235
43.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.70 €4.97
$10.07 COP 31.4K
-43.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.23 €5.43
$10.12 COP 31.6K
-38.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.18 €12.36
$14.30 COP 44.6K
-0.84%
Apples (1kg)
$3.56 €3.11
$4.14 COP 12.9K
-14.01%
Banana (1kg)
$2.59 €2.25
$1.61 COP 5,019
60.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 €2.00
$2.25 COP 7,007
2.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.95 €2.57
$2.25 COP 7,028
31.11%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 €2.21
$2.04 COP 6,375
24.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 €1.78
$1.54 COP 4,790
32.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.38 €2.07
$1.17 COP 3,651
103.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 €0.83
$1.31 COP 4,077
-27.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.23 €5.43
$3.90 COP 12.2K
59.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.09 €6.18
$14.01 COP 43.7K
-49.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 €1.47
$1.74 COP 5,439
-3.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 €2.11
$2.87 COP 8,956
-15.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.29 €2.00
$1.22 COP 3,792
87.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$80.5 COP 251.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.05 €4.40
$1.31 COP 4,084
285.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.26 €1.97
$2.19 COP 6,825
3.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 €12.29
$8.71 COP 27.2K
61.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 €1.33
$1.37 COP 4,260
11.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8K €27.7K
$27.8K COP 86.9M
14.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K €25.2K
$35.8K COP 111.6M
-19.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 €89.3
$177 COP 553.2K
-42.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.03 €18.33
$13.88 COP 43.3K
51.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.21 €25.46
$29.72 COP 92.8K
-1.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.6 €51.1
$44.88 COP 140.1K
30.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.51 €20.49
$17.12 COP 53.4K
37.32%
Cinema Ticket
$10.54 €9.19
$6.65 COP 20.7K
58.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$233 €203
$813 COP 2.5M
-71.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,619 €4,027
$9,187 COP 28.7M
-49.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.9 €79.3
$89.5 COP 279.3K
1.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.50 €26.58
$59.0 COP 184.0K
-48.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 €77.1
$138 COP 431.2K
-35.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.3 €73.5
$102 COP 318.7K
-17.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,040 €907
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-2.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$859 €748
$663 COP 2.1M
29.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,485 €1,295
$1,888 COP 5.9M
-21.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,279 €1,115
$1,027 COP 3.2M
24.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,940 €2,563
$4,183 COP 13.1M
-29.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,448 €2,134
$1,675 COP 5.2M
46.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marsascala
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,182 €1,902
$678 COP 2.1M
222.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.9
10.94
-73.49%

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

Last update for Marsascala: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,040 in Marsascala versus $1,062 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 222% 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 $89.0 in Marsascala versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $260 in Marsascala vs $305 in Medellin – so Marsascala wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 5%, 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 $2,657 per month in Marsascala and $2,521 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 in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Marsascala and $48.00 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 in Medellin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Marsascala – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Marsascala or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Marsascala at $1,771. 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.

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