Cost of Living Comparison Between Maui, HI and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Maui, HI and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,713 per month in Maui, HI vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,600 per month in Maui, HI vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,487 per month in Maui, HI vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Maui, HI costs about 187% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Maui, HI and Medellin sit above the global median – Maui, HI by 242%, Medellin by 19%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$34.33 $34.33

$8.04 COP 24.8K

326.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 $120

$48.29 COP 148.7K

148.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.06 $15.06

$9.42 COP 29.0K

59.87%

Cappuccino

$6.56 $6.56

$2.94 COP 9,045

123.13%

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

$3.13 $3.13

$1.86 COP 5,738

68.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.46 COP 4,481

91.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 $8.20

$3.21 COP 9,887

155.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.20 $9.20

$5.71 COP 17.6K

61.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.21 $2.21

$1.44 COP 4,431

53.47%

White Bread (500g)

$8.62 $8.62

$2.40 COP 7,393

259.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.94 $8.94

$1.70 COP 5,230

425.88%

Eggs

$8.80 $8.80

$2.89 COP 8,901

204.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$27.28 $27.28

$10.06 COP 31.0K

171.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.64 $15.64

$9.97 COP 30.7K

56.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.97 $21.97

$14.20 COP 43.7K

54.72%

Apples (1kg)

$10.14 $10.14

$3.98 COP 12.3K

154.77%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.58 COP 4,880

37.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.04 $10.04

$2.15 COP 6,627

366.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.95 $7.95

$2.30 COP 7,082

245.65%

Potato (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$2.00 COP 6,172

222.50%

Onion (1kg)

$7.86 $7.86

$1.51 COP 4,648

420.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.07 $5.07

$1.20 COP 3,703

322.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.62 $3.62

$1.28 COP 3,948

182.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.93 $16.93

$3.84 COP 11.8K

340.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.68 $19.68

$14.01 COP 43.1K

40.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

$1.71 COP 5,259

-1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.78 $7.78

$2.74 COP 8,444

183.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.25 COP 3,836

121.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.7 $99.7

$77.9 COP 239.9K

28.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.08 $10.08

$1.31 COP 4,018

669.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 $0.91

$2.17 COP 6,684

-58.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.29 COP 25.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 $1.25

$1.36 COP 4,174

-8.09%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$27.5K COP 84.6M

34.72%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$36.5K COP 112.5M

-22.70%

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

$382 $382

$169 COP 519.5K

126.62%

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

$61.2 $61.2

$13.57 COP 41.8K

351.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.4 $74.4

$28.32 COP 87.2K

162.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.01 $30.01

$45.71 COP 140.8K

-34.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.0K

Cinema Ticket

$14.87 $14.87

$6.65 COP 20.5K

123.61%

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

$1,674 $1,674

$803 COP 2.5M

108.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.0K $17.0K

$9,190 COP 28.3M

84.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.7 $88.7

$87.4 COP 269.0K

1.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.5 $54.5

$59.4 COP 182.8K

-8.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 $131

$139 COP 427.7K

-5.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$198 $198

$102 COP 314.2K

94.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,265 $2,265

$1,071 COP 3.3M

111.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,648 $2,648

$653 COP 2.0M

305.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,639 $4,639

$1,925 COP 5.9M

140.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,785 $3,785

$1,048 COP 3.2M

261.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.2K $14.2K

$4,123 COP 12.7M

244.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,077 $9,077

$1,697 COP 5.2M

434.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,547 $5,547

$655 COP 2.0M

746.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.58

10.94

-39.85%

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

Last update for Maui, HI: September 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,265 in Maui, HI versus $1,071 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 747% higher in Maui, HI, 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 $120 in Maui, HI versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $711 vs $300 – 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

Maui, HI vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,713 in Maui, HI, $1,641 in Medellin – roughly 187% apart. Maui, HI costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,069 per month in Maui, HI and $2,462 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.

Kindergarten costs $1,674 per month in Maui, HI and $803 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 137% more in Maui, HI, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Maui, HI at $4,713. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Maui, HI 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 $1,641 in Medellin to $4,713 in Maui, HI. 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, Maui, HI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.