Cost of Living Comparison Between Mata Utu and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Mata Utu and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $5,442 per month in Mata Utu vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,963 per month in Mata Utu vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,484 per month in Mata Utu vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Mata Utu costs about 224% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Mata Utu and Medellin sit above the global median – Mata Utu by 298%, Medellin by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.43 CFPF 1,185

$8.02 COP 25.4K

42.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$116 CFPF 12.0K

$47.87 COP 152.0K

142.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 31.4K

Cappuccino

$8.08 CFPF 838

$3.13 COP 9,937

158.15%

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

$5.86 CFPF 607

$1.91 COP 6,058

206.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 CFPF 368

$1.51 COP 4,794

135.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,917

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 CFPF 595

$5.75 COP 18.3K

-0.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,587

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,894

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,631

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,396

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 32.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 32.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 45.4K

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 13.1K

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,106

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,129

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,150

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,486

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,873

Lettuce (1 head)

$11.85 CFPF 1,229

$1.17 COP 3,715

912.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.64 CFPF 481

$1.31 COP 4,148

254.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.31 CFPF 1,795

$3.90 COP 12.4K

343.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.48 CFPF 1,813

$14.01 COP 44.5K

24.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,534

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 9,112

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,858

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 255.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,155

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,944

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.91 CFPF 198

$1.37 COP 4,334

39.42%

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

$27.8K COP 88.4M

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

$35.8K COP 113.6M

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

$149 CFPF 15.5K

$177 COP 562.9K

-15.93%

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

$115 CFPF 11.9K

$13.88 COP 44.1K

725.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3,487 CFPF 361.6K

$29.72 COP 94.4K

11632.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 142.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 21.1K

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

$813 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$228 CFPF 23.7K

$89.5 COP 284.1K

154.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$92.1 CFPF 9,548

$59.0 COP 187.2K

56.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$232 CFPF 24.0K

$138 COP 438.8K

67.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$296 CFPF 30.7K

$102 COP 324.2K

189.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 CFPF 94.9K

$1,062 COP 3.4M

-13.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$934 CFPF 96.8K

$663 COP 2.1M

40.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,315 CFPF 240.1K

$1,888 COP 6.0M

22.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,339 CFPF 242.5K

$1,027 COP 3.3M

127.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,490 CFPF 362.0K

$678 COP 2.2M

415.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Mata Utu: September 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $915 in Mata Utu 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 415% higher in Mata Utu, 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 $116 in Mata Utu versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $138 in Mata Utu vs $305 in Medellin – so Mata Utu 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

Mata Utu vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $5,442 in Mata Utu, $1,681 in Medellin – roughly 224% apart. Mata Utu costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $8,163 per month in Mata Utu and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $116 in Mata Utu and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $5,442 in Mata Utu and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Mata Utu at $5,442. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mata Utu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,681 in Medellin to $5,442 in Mata Utu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mata Utu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.