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 $5,463 per month in Mata Utu vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,834 per month in Mata Utu vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,204 per month in Mata Utu vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Mata Utu costs about 445% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Mata Utu sits 310% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.48 CFPF 1,188

$5.91 COP 18.6K

94.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$114 CFPF 11.8K

$32.96 COP 103.8K

246.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

Cappuccino

$8.16 CFPF 844

$1.65 COP 5,207

394.55%

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

$5.96 CFPF 616

$1.10 COP 3,468

441.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 CFPF 357

$0.78 COP 2,458

342.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 CFPF 611

$3.18 COP 10.0K

85.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

Lettuce (1 head)

$11.44 CFPF 1,184

$0.90 COP 2,838

1171.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.76 CFPF 493

$0.90 COP 2,823

428.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.26 CFPF 1,787

$2.23 COP 7,034

673.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.36 CFPF 1,797

$12.12 COP 38.2K

43.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.92 CFPF 199

$0.99 COP 3,118

93.94%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$150 CFPF 15.5K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

80.41%

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

$115 CFPF 11.9K

$9.70 COP 30.5K

1082.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3,531 CFPF 365.4K

$23.52 COP 74.1K

14912.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

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

$316 COP 994.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$230 CFPF 23.8K

$60.0 COP 188.9K

282.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$91.6 CFPF 9,475

$31.82 COP 100.2K

187.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$228 CFPF 23.6K

$102 COP 320.1K

124.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$285 CFPF 29.5K

$107 COP 338.3K

165.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$910 CFPF 94.2K

$475 COP 1.5M

91.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$939 CFPF 97.1K

$374 COP 1.2M

150.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,304 CFPF 238.5K

$849 COP 2.7M

171.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,353 CFPF 243.6K

$719 COP 2.3M

227.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,417 CFPF 353.7K

$624 COP 2.0M

447.19%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $910 in Mata Utu versus $475 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 447% 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 – $138 in Mata Utu vs $193 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: $5,463 in Mata Utu, $1,003 in Medellin – roughly 445% apart. Mata Utu costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $8,195 per month in Mata Utu and $1,504 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 $5,463 in Mata Utu and $1,003 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 $1,003, than in Mata Utu at $5,463. 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 $1,003 in Medellin to $5,463 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.