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 $4,531 per month in Maui, HI vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,189 per month in Maui, HI vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,847 per month in Maui, HI vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Maui, HI costs about 352% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Maui, HI sits 240% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.42 $29.42

$5.91 COP 18.4K

397.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$108 $108

$32.96 COP 102.7K

229.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.76 $14.76

$7.43 COP 23.1K

98.65%

Cappuccino

$6.57 $6.57

$1.65 COP 5,153

298.18%

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

$2.78 $2.78

$1.10 COP 3,432

152.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 $2.81

$0.78 COP 2,433

260.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 $8.01

$1.72 COP 5,356

365.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.94 $7.94

$3.18 COP 9,904

149.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 $2.07

$1.10 COP 3,439

88.18%

White Bread (500g)

$3.48 $3.48

$1.26 COP 3,921

176.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.88 $8.88

$1.38 COP 4,304

543.48%

Eggs

$8.58 $8.58

$2.18 COP 6,788

293.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.48 $12.48

$4.49 COP 14.0K

177.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.38 $15.38

$5.79 COP 18.0K

165.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$22.48 $22.48

$8.97 COP 27.9K

150.61%

Apples (1kg)

$5.03 $5.03

$2.32 COP 7,232

116.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 $2.23

$1.06 COP 3,318

110.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$1.52 COP 4,725

178.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$1.36 COP 4,226

252.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.13 COP 3,515

153.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.79 $2.79

$1.17 COP 3,651

138.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 $2.00

$0.90 COP 2,809

122.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.64 $3.64

$0.90 COP 2,794

304.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.82 $9.82

$2.23 COP 6,961

340.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.91 $19.91

$12.12 COP 37.8K

64.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.19 COP 3,704

42.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 $3.23

$2.48 COP 7,735

30.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.52 $3.52

$0.85 COP 2,660

314.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$99.6 $99.6

$41.62 COP 129.7K

139.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 $3.41

$1.42 COP 4,413

140.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 $0.97

$1.95 COP 6,078

-50.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.08 $29.08

$7.89 COP 24.6K

268.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.99 COP 3,086

29.29%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$17.6K COP 54.8M

110.18%

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

$28.7K $28.7K

$26.8K COP 83.5M

6.95%

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

$392 $392

$83.0 COP 258.7K

371.83%

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

$60.8 $60.8

$9.70 COP 30.2K

527.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.0 $73.0

$23.52 COP 73.3K

210.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.50 $30.50

$25.26 COP 78.7K

20.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 59.5K

Cinema Ticket

$15.11 $15.11

$3.95 COP 12.3K

282.53%

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

$1,619 $1,619

$316 COP 984.0K

412.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.7K $16.7K

$5,975 COP 18.6M

179.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$88.9 $88.9

$60.0 COP 187.0K

48.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.1 $54.1

$31.82 COP 99.1K

70.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 $128

$102 COP 316.8K

26.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$201 $201

$107 COP 334.8K

87.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,233 $2,233

$475 COP 1.5M

370.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,677 $2,677

$374 COP 1.2M

615.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,616 $4,616

$849 COP 2.6M

443.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,913 $3,913

$719 COP 2.2M

443.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$14.3K $14.3K

$3,265 COP 10.2M

338.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,164 $9,164

$1,441 COP 4.5M

536.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,731 $5,731

$624 COP 1.9M

817.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.66

13.43

-50.41%

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

Last update for Maui, HI: July 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,233 in Maui, HI 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 818% 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 $108 in Maui, HI versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $507 vs $193 – 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: $4,531 in Maui, HI, $1,003 in Medellin – roughly 352% apart. Maui, HI costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,796 per month in Maui, HI 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.

Kindergarten costs $1,619 per month in Maui, HI and $316 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 162% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Maui, HI at $4,531. 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 $1,003 in Medellin to $4,531 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.