😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $723 in Berkane, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,124 in Berkane, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,524 in Berkane, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 132% more than Berkane, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Berkane is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$6.41MAD 60.8
25.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$17.33MAD 164
176.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$6.09MAD 57.7
62.40%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$1.90MAD 18.02
64.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$0.57MAD 5.45
235.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$0.34MAD 3.27
344.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$4.15MAD 39.37
-24.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$3.40MAD 32.20
69.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$0.86MAD 8.16
67.44%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$0.54MAD 5.07
361.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$1.68MAD 15.97
5.36%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$1.93MAD 18.30
53.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$7.12MAD 67.5
41.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$6.27MAD 59.5
61.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$10.50MAD 99.6
36.19%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$1.54MAD 14.56
168.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$1.37MAD 12.95
17.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$0.85MAD 8.03
164.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$0.80MAD 7.56
181.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$0.74MAD 7.05
175.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$0.80MAD 7.55
92.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$0.41MAD 3.89
185.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.58MAD 5.52
125.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$4.08MAD 38.66
-4.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$7.98MAD 75.7
75.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$2.55MAD 24.15
-31.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$2.65MAD 25.16
8.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$0.49MAD 4.60
148.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$18.86MAD 179
326.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$0.70MAD 6.67
87.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$0.70MAD 6.61
212.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$4.87MAD 46.20
78.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$1.62MAD 15.38
-15.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$34.8KMAD 330.2K
-20.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$31.8KMAD 302.0K
12.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$40.11MAD 380
342.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$10.37MAD 98.4
33.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$36.56MAD 347
-18.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$26.22MAD 249
71.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$21.42MAD 203
-20.07%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$5.97MAD 56.6
11.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$88.5MAD 839
818.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$5,945MAD 56.4K
54.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$32.84MAD 311
172.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$49.53MAD 470
19.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$80.1MAD 760
72.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$66.2MAD 627
54.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$274MAD 2,598
287.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$169MAD 1,607
291.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$480MAD 4,552
293.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$272MAD 2,583
277.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$1,036MAD 9,827
303.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$721MAD 6,833
132.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$278MAD 2,632
144.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.52
142.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Berkane: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $274 in Berkane. 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 144% higher in Medellin, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $17.00 in Berkane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $182 – making Berkane 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
Medellin vs Berkane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Berkane cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 132%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,085 in Berkane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Berkane, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Berkane?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $17.00 in Berkane. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Berkane?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $723 in Berkane. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Berkane?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Berkane, where all-in costs run around $723, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Berkane it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Berkane more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Berkane – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Berkane?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Berkane. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.