😐A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $724 in Berkane, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,128 in Berkane, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,532 in Berkane, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 39% more than Berkane, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Medellin and Berkane are more affordable than the global median – Medellin25% lower, Berkane46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$4.16MAD 38.76
42.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$23.56MAD 220
39.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$6.69MAD 62.4
11.06%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$1.66MAD 15.49
-0.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$0.58MAD 5.43
89.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$0.33MAD 3.05
136.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$3.93MAD 36.68
-56.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$3.58MAD 33.35
-11.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$0.87MAD 8.14
26.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$0.49MAD 4.62
157.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$1.78MAD 16.59
-22.47%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$1.94MAD 18.09
12.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$10.17MAD 94.8
-55.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$5.95MAD 55.4
-2.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$11.23MAD 105
-20.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$1.35MAD 12.61
71.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$1.34MAD 12.52
-20.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$0.77MAD 7.17
97.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$0.85MAD 7.93
60.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$0.68MAD 6.31
66.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$0.76MAD 7.09
53.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$0.42MAD 3.94
114.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.58MAD 5.41
55.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$4.13MAD 38.54
-46.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$8.09MAD 75.4
49.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$2.73MAD 25.41
-56.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$2.73MAD 25.49
-9.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$0.48MAD 4.43
77.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
$16.20MAD 151
156.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$0.59MAD 5.48
140.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$0.52MAD 4.84
275.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$4.51MAD 42.02
74.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$1.52MAD 14.21
-34.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$37.4KMAD 348.6K
-52.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$29.6KMAD 275.7K
-9.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$36.15MAD 337
129.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$11.10MAD 104
-12.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$39.77MAD 371
-40.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$24.86MAD 232
1.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
$23.16MAD 216
-17.53%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$6.70MAD 62.5
-41.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$107MAD 999
194.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$3,514MAD 32.8K
70.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$39.25MAD 366
52.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$40.38MAD 377
-21.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$86.1MAD 803
18.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$70.2MAD 655
53.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$281MAD 2,619
69.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$174MAD 1,619
115.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$505MAD 4,713
67.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$304MAD 2,838
136.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
$1,272MAD 11.9K
156.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$986MAD 9,193
46.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$281MAD 2,621
122.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.78
180.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Berkane: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $281 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 122% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $24.00 in Berkane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $192 – 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 39%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,086 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $24.00 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $724 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 $724, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.