Cost of Living Comparison Between Mdina and MedellinCost of Living Comparison Between Mdina and Medellin
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,996 in Mdina versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,018 in Mdina versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,040 in Mdina versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Mdina is roughly 97% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mdina is 49% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mdina
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.98€18.06
$5.99COP 21.4K
250.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.1€81.0
$32.86COP 117.2K
186.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.40€9.82
$7.09COP 25.3K
60.79%
Cappuccino
$2.95€2.54
$1.71COP 6,105
72.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05€2.63
$1.10COP 3,918
177.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18€1.88
$0.78COP 2,776
179.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.54€3.91
$1.68COP 5,987
170.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.64€4.00
$3.07COP 10.9K
51.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mdina
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41€1.21
$1.09COP 3,899
29.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26€1.08
$1.26COP 4,500
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.24€3.65
$1.38COP 4,914
207.25%
Eggs
$4.58€3.94
$2.19COP 7,813
109.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.30€8.87
$4.40COP 15.7K
134.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.20€7.92
$5.63COP 20.1K
63.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20€12.22
$8.89COP 31.7K
59.73%
Apples(1kg)
$4.31€3.71
$2.34COP 8,334
84.19%
Banana(1kg)
$3.06€2.64
$1.06COP 3,771
188.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.23€2.78
$1.50COP 5,365
115.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.61€3.11
$1.38COP 4,915
161.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.60€2.24
$1.15COP 4,104
126.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35€1.16
$1.16COP 4,148
16.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.36€2.03
$0.89COP 3,176
165.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20€1.03
$0.84COP 2,992
42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.64
$2.28COP 8,131
187.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.40€7.23
$10.64COP 37.9K
-21.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95€1.68
$1.20COP 4,276
62.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23€1.92
$2.47COP 8,809
-9.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Mdina
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.81€2.42
$0.86COP 3,051
226.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.40COP 147.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.77€4.96
$1.47COP 5,255
292.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.06€3.49
$1.96COP 6,997
107.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$48.81€42.03
$7.74COP 27.6K
530.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53€1.32
$0.95COP 3,403
61.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.2K€33.7K
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
115.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.4K€32.2K
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
41.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mdina
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$93.2€80.3
$82.3COP 293.2K
13.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.63€24.65
$9.50COP 33.9K
201.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.95€39.57
$24.23COP 86.4K
89.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mdina
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.9€55.9
$25.89COP 92.3K
150.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.88€19.70
$19.00COP 67.7K
20.42%
Cinema Ticket
$10.23€8.81
$3.93COP 14.0K
160.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mdina
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428€368
$309COP 1.1M
38.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.9K€9,371
$5,965COP 21.3M
82.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mdina
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.2€78.5
$58.7COP 209.1K
55.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.33€33.00
$32.35COP 115.3K
18.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.5
$103COP 365.7K
1.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103€88.8
$108COP 386.5K
-4.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mdina
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,150€991
$476COP 1.7M
141.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$949€818
$379COP 1.4M
150.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,018€1,738
$838COP 3.0M
140.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,531€1,319
$724COP 2.6M
111.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,554€3,921
$2,791COP 9.9M
63.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,826€2,434
$1,211COP 4.3M
133.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mdina
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,539€1,325
$512COP 1.8M
200.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3
13.43
-77.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mdina: May 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,150 in Mdina and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mdina pays 201% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $94.0 in Mdina vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 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
Mdina vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mdina and Medellin?
Mdina and Medellin differ by about 97% in total monthly costs ($1,996 vs $1,013 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mdina or Medellin?
Mdina pays 201% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mdina and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,150 in Mdina versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 69% higher in Mdina. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mdina or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,996 per month in Mdina versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 97% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,996 in Mdina, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Mdina. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mdina and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mdina or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mdina 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.
Where should expats move: Mdina or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 97% less than in Mdina. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.