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 $5,370 per month in Mata Utu vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,831 per month in Mata Utu vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,291 per month in Mata Utu vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Mata Utu costs about 420% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Mata Utu sits 301% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.67 CFPF 1,190

$5.92 COP 21.4K

97.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$114 CFPF 11.7K

$32.75 COP 118.2K

248.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

Cappuccino

$7.90 CFPF 806

$1.70 COP 6,140

364.71%

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

$5.91 CFPF 603

$1.10 COP 3,966

437.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 CFPF 358

$0.72 COP 2,605

387.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.62 CFPF 574

$3.10 COP 11.2K

81.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

Lettuce (1 head)

$11.66 CFPF 1,190

$0.85 COP 3,057

1271.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.73 CFPF 483

$0.91 COP 3,281

419.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$17.51 CFPF 1,786

$2.33 COP 8,414

651.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.84 CFPF 1,820

$11.13 COP 40.2K

60.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.98 CFPF 202

$0.94 COP 3,385

110.64%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

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

$149 CFPF 15.2K

$84.0 COP 303.1K

77.48%

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

$114 CFPF 11.6K

$9.60 COP 34.7K

1086.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$3,446 CFPF 351.6K

$24.16 COP 87.2K

14162.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

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

$306 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$236 CFPF 24.1K

$57.9 COP 209.1K

306.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$93.5 CFPF 9,538

$31.82 COP 114.9K

193.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$234 CFPF 23.9K

$99.9 COP 360.6K

134.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$286 CFPF 29.1K

$107 COP 386.8K

166.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$922 CFPF 94.0K

$487 COP 1.8M

89.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$943 CFPF 96.2K

$368 COP 1.3M

156.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,268 CFPF 231.5K

$826 COP 3.0M

174.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,294 CFPF 234.1K

$716 COP 2.6M

220.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,469 CFPF 354.0K

$546 COP 2.0M

535.90%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $922 in Mata Utu versus $487 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 – $139 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: $5,370 in Mata Utu, $1,034 in Medellin – roughly 420% apart. Mata Utu costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $8,056 per month in Mata Utu and $1,550 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 $5,370 in Mata Utu and $1,034 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 $1,034, than in Mata Utu at $5,370. 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 $1,034 in Medellin to $5,370 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.