😐A single person spends $1,884 per month in Mataro vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,740 per month in Mataro vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,596 per month in Mataro vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Mataro costs about 85% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mataro sits 40% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mataro
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04€14.68
$5.95COP 20.8K
186.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1€50.0
$33.33COP 116.3K
74.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.50€9.05
$7.23COP 25.2K
45.23%
Cappuccino
$2.08€1.80
$1.63COP 5,687
27.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77€2.38
$1.09COP 3,821
154.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.73COP 2,548
182.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.42€3.81
$1.74COP 6,065
154.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39€2.92
$3.23COP 11.3K
4.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mataro
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.07
$1.05COP 3,662
19.05%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05€1.76
$1.29COP 4,515
58.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.27€1.09
$1.32COP 4,617
-3.79%
Eggs
$3.32€2.86
$2.27COP 7,927
46.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.47€15.05
$4.35COP 15.2K
301.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.68€8.34
$5.88COP 20.5K
64.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.00€12.06
$8.61COP 30.0K
62.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.69€2.32
$2.25COP 7,844
19.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05€1.77
$1.07COP 3,733
91.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.50€2.15
$1.52COP 5,322
64.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.83€2.44
$1.42COP 4,964
99.30%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02€1.74
$1.17COP 4,084
72.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.35€2.02
$1.17COP 4,077
100.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.25
$0.89COP 3,096
62.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79€0.68
$0.90COP 3,146
-12.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.46€5.57
$2.25COP 7,837
187.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.74€4.94
$11.04COP 38.5K
-48.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21€1.04
$1.14COP 3,977
6.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30€1.98
$2.38COP 8,301
-3.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Mataro
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28€1.96
$0.84COP 2,916
171.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.59€22.05
$41.95COP 146.4K
-39.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.46€2.12
$1.41COP 4,912
74.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60€1.38
$1.90COP 6,634
-15.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.75€25.63
$7.75COP 27.0K
283.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90€1.64
$1.01COP 3,509
88.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K€33.1K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
118.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K€25.5K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
11.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mataro
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$83.7COP 292.1K
125.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.76€17.88
$9.45COP 33.0K
119.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.01€31.88
$24.11COP 84.1K
53.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mataro
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.6€55.7
$25.31COP 88.3K
155.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.01€12.93
$19.14COP 66.8K
-21.58%
Cinema Ticket
$11.09€9.55
$4.10COP 14.3K
170.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mataro
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$517€446
$312COP 1.1M
65.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,143€7,016
$5,993COP 20.9M
35.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mataro
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.8€64.5
$58.0COP 202.6K
28.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.54€32.35
$32.56COP 113.6K
15.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6€76.3
$99.6COP 347.7K
-11.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112€96.9
$109COP 378.8K
3.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mataro
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$879€758
$482COP 1.7M
82.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$807€695
$379COP 1.3M
112.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,365€1,176
$837COP 2.9M
63.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,247€1,075
$723COP 2.5M
72.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,418€2,945
$2,840COP 9.9M
20.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,205€1,900
$1,223COP 4.3M
80.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mataro
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,953€1,682
$541COP 1.9M
261.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
13.43
-74.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mataro: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $879 in Mataro 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 261% higher in Mataro, 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 $58.0 in Mataro versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $190 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Mataro vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mataro and Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,884 in Mataro, $1,017 in Medellin – roughly 85% apart. Mataro costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Mataro compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,826 per month in Mataro and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mataro and Medellin?
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.
How do commuting costs compare in Mataro and Medellin?
Public transport costs about 64% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mataro and Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $517 per month in Mataro and $312 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Mataro at $1,884. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mataro it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Mataro and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,017 in Medellin to $1,884 in Mataro. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Mataro or Medellin safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Mataro and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mataro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.