Cost of Living Comparison Between Massa and MedellinCost of Living Comparison Between Massa and Medellin
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,720 in Massa versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,663 in Massa versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,606 in Massa versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Massa is roughly 67% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Massa is 29% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Massa
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.53€15.35
$6.16COP 20.1K
184.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.8€65.5
$32.60COP 106.1K
129.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.04€9.67
$7.34COP 23.9K
50.41%
Cappuccino
$2.17€1.90
$1.72COP 5,599
26.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.11
$1.05COP 3,420
129.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13€0.99
$0.77COP 2,515
46.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.58€4.01
$1.69COP 5,487
171.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.63€4.93
$3.17COP 10.3K
77.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Massa
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.58€1.38
$1.05COP 3,423
50.48%
White Bread(500g)
$2.58€2.26
$1.30COP 4,236
98.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.80€2.45
$1.40COP 4,544
100.00%
Eggs
$5.16€4.52
$2.16COP 7,046
138.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$21.23€18.59
$4.39COP 14.3K
383.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.28€11.63
$5.88COP 19.1K
125.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.87€15.65
$8.64COP 28.1K
106.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.47€2.16
$2.28COP 7,425
8.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14€1.87
$1.11COP 3,603
92.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$1.53COP 4,982
31.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.92€2.56
$1.35COP 4,410
116.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64€1.44
$1.13COP 3,674
45.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34€1.17
$1.13COP 3,692
18.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.70€1.49
$0.85COP 2,753
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60€0.53
$0.91COP 2,975
-34.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.96€6.10
$2.34COP 7,629
197.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.11€7.10
$12.37COP 40.3K
-34.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73€1.51
$1.20COP 3,909
44.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92€1.68
$2.49COP 8,104
-22.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Massa
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.70€1.49
$0.84COP 2,727
102.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.35€37.97
$40.57COP 132.1K
6.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.83€5.10
$1.42COP 4,623
310.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.45€1.27
$1.92COP 6,235
-24.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.66€25.10
$7.66COP 24.9K
274.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.83
$0.99COP 3,223
111.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K€23.1K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
46.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K€30.2K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
29.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Massa
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$182€159
$80.8COP 263.1K
124.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.33€13.43
$9.95COP 32.4K
54.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.67€25.98
$24.18COP 78.7K
22.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Massa
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9€48.04
$25.08COP 81.6K
118.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.98€20.13
$19.15COP 62.3K
20.00%
Cinema Ticket
$10.55€9.24
$3.98COP 13.0K
165.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Massa
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$658€576
$305COP 993.4K
115.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,623€4,049
$6,059COP 19.7M
-23.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Massa
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.8€79.5
$58.1COP 189.2K
56.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.00€39.41
$32.20COP 104.8K
39.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0€85.8
$101COP 327.9K
-2.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$169€148
$108COP 350.8K
56.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Massa
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$764€669
$477COP 1.6M
60.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$583€510
$376COP 1.2M
54.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,212€1,062
$845COP 2.7M
43.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$925€810
$730COP 2.4M
26.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,939€2,574
$3,215COP 10.5M
-8.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,050€1,795
$1,372COP 4.5M
49.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Massa
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,742€1,525
$617COP 2.0M
182.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.83
13.43
-64.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Massa: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $764 in Massa and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Massa pays 182% 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: $75.0 in Massa vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $355 vs $193 per month, with Medellin 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
Massa vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Massa and in Medellin?
Massa and Medellin differ by about 67% in total monthly costs ($1,720 vs $1,031 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Massa or Medellin?
Average pay runs 182% higher in Massa, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Massa and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $764 in Massa versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $75.0 in Massa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Massa or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,720 per month in Massa versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,720 in Massa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Massa. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Massa and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Massa or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Massa and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Massa or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Massa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.