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 $5,325 per month in Mata Utu vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,803 per month in Mata Utu vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,281 per month in Mata Utu vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Mata Utu costs about 424% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Mata Utu sits 296% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.73 CFPF 1,206

$5.95 COP 20.8K

97.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$114 CFPF 11.7K

$33.33 COP 116.3K

242.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$8.14 CFPF 837

$1.63 COP 5,687

399.39%

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

$5.70 CFPF 587

$1.09 COP 3,821

422.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 CFPF 361

$0.73 COP 2,548

380.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.76 CFPF 593

$3.23 COP 11.3K

78.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

Lettuce (1 head)

$11.49 CFPF 1,182

$0.89 COP 3,096

1191.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.62 CFPF 475

$0.90 COP 3,146

413.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.56 CFPF 1,806

$2.25 COP 7,837

680.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.17 CFPF 1,766

$11.04 COP 38.5K

55.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.99 CFPF 204

$1.01 COP 3,509

97.03%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$153 CFPF 15.7K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

82.52%

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

$116 CFPF 11.9K

$9.45 COP 33.0K

1124.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3,441 CFPF 353.9K

$24.11 COP 84.1K

14172.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$233 CFPF 24.0K

$58.0 COP 202.6K

301.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$93.7 CFPF 9,635

$32.56 COP 113.6K

187.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$229 CFPF 23.6K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

129.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$289 CFPF 29.7K

$109 COP 378.8K

166.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$909 CFPF 93.5K

$482 COP 1.7M

88.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$922 CFPF 94.9K

$379 COP 1.3M

143.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 CFPF 240.9K

$837 COP 2.9M

179.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,336 CFPF 240.3K

$723 COP 2.5M

223.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,441 CFPF 353.9K

$541 COP 1.9M

536.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Mata Utu: June 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $909 in Mata Utu 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 536% 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 $114 in Mata Utu versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $136 in Mata Utu vs $190 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: $5,325 in Mata Utu, $1,017 in Medellin – roughly 424% apart. Mata Utu costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,988 per month in Mata Utu and $1,525 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 $114 in Mata Utu and $33.00 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 $5,325 in Mata Utu and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Mata Utu at $5,325. 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 $1,017 in Medellin to $5,325 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.