😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,362 in Mazsalaca versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,053 in Mazsalaca versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,745 in Mazsalaca versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Mazsalaca is roughly 34% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mazsalaca is 2% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mazsalaca
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.36€9.85
$5.99COP 21.5K
89.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.7€50.9
$32.86COP 118.1K
78.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.39€6.41
$7.09COP 25.5K
4.23%
Cappuccino
$3.29€2.86
$1.71COP 6,155
92.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86€1.62
$1.10COP 3,950
69.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30€1.13
$0.78COP 2,799
66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.79€4.16
$1.68COP 6,037
185.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09€2.68
$3.07COP 11.0K
0.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mazsalaca
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.15
$1.09COP 3,931
21.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.70€1.47
$1.26COP 4,537
34.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.89€2.51
$1.38COP 4,955
109.42%
Eggs
$3.16€2.74
$2.19COP 7,878
44.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.73€10.18
$4.40COP 15.8K
166.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.47€6.48
$5.63COP 20.2K
32.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.99€10.40
$8.89COP 32.0K
34.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.35€1.17
$2.34COP 8,403
-42.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.49
$1.06COP 3,802
62.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.54€2.20
$1.50COP 5,409
69.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.46€3.00
$1.38COP 4,956
150.72%
Potato(1kg)
$0.96€0.83
$1.15COP 4,138
-16.52%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95€0.83
$1.16COP 4,183
-18.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.71€1.48
$0.89COP 3,203
92.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$0.84COP 3,016
-1.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.22€4.53
$2.28COP 8,198
128.95%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.64COP 38.3K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.63
$1.20COP 4,312
56.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21€1.92
$2.47COP 8,882
-10.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Mazsalaca
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94€0.81
$0.86COP 3,076
9.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.87€31.98
$41.40COP 148.8K
-10.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.37€2.06
$1.47COP 5,298
61.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.73
$1.96COP 7,055
-56.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.43€9.92
$7.74COP 27.8K
47.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87€1.62
$0.95COP 3,431
96.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K€26.2K
$18.1KCOP 65.2M
66.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.3K€27.1K
$26.5KCOP 95.2M
18.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mazsalaca
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$318€275
$82.3COP 295.7K
286.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.68€15.34
$9.50COP 34.2K
86.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.93€17.29
$24.23COP 87.1K
-17.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mazsalaca
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.9€44.17
$25.89COP 93.0K
96.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00COP 68.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.47€9.95
$3.93COP 14.1K
191.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mazsalaca
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$553€480
$309COP 1.1M
78.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.3K€13.3K
$5,965COP 21.4M
156.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mazsalaca
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.2€80.0
$58.7COP 210.8K
57.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.19€40.07
$32.35COP 116.3K
42.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.0€81.6
$103COP 368.8K
-8.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€115
$108COP 389.7K
22.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mazsalaca
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$365€316
$476COP 1.7M
-23.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$256€222
$379COP 1.4M
-32.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$743€644
$838COP 3.0M
-11.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$449€390
$724COP 2.6M
-37.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,791COP 10.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,211COP 4.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mazsalaca
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$512COP 1.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.1
13.43
-69.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mazsalaca: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $365 in Mazsalaca and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in Mazsalaca vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $188 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Mazsalaca vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mazsalaca or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Mazsalaca. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mazsalaca vs Medellin?
You'd need roughly $2,042 in Mazsalaca and $1,519 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mazsalaca vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $365 in Mazsalaca versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Mazsalaca and Medellin?
Childcare runs $553 in Mazsalaca versus $309 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Mazsalaca or Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Mazsalaca. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Mazsalaca or Medellin?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,362 in Mazsalaca, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Mazsalaca. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mazsalaca or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,013 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Mazsalaca compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Mazsalaca and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Mazsalaca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.