Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Berkane Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Berkane

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $729 in Berkane, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,118 in Berkane, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,506 in Berkane, rent included.

Medellin costs about 42% more than Berkane, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Berkane are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Berkane 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$4.21 MAD 38.90
40.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$23.87 MAD 221
37.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$6.61 MAD 61.1
8.93%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$1.66 MAD 15.31
2.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$0.63 MAD 5.87
74.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$0.32 MAD 2.99
125.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
$3.75 MAD 34.72
-55.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
$3.68 MAD 34.00
-15.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$0.83 MAD 7.65
27.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$0.49 MAD 4.57
155.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$1.75 MAD 16.16
-20.57%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$1.97 MAD 18.23
14.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$9.88 MAD 91.4
-56.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$6.21 MAD 57.5
-5.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$11.10 MAD 103
-20.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$1.38 MAD 12.77
62.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$1.31 MAD 12.09
-17.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$0.84 MAD 7.75
82.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$0.81 MAD 7.48
69.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$0.73 MAD 6.78
54.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$0.76 MAD 7.06
47.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$0.39 MAD 3.62
117.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$0.59 MAD 5.46
54.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$4.23 MAD 39.17
-44.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
$7.88 MAD 72.9
41.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
$2.72 MAD 25.18
-56.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
$2.83 MAD 26.15
-16.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$0.47 MAD 4.33
68.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
$16.46 MAD 152
149.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$0.63 MAD 5.83
128.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$0.51 MAD 4.72
274.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$4.48 MAD 41.39
79.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$1.54 MAD 14.22
-38.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$37.8K MAD 350.0K
-52.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$29.5K MAD 273.2K
-9.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$35.99 MAD 333
133.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$10.99 MAD 102
-12.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$40.00 MAD 370
-39.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$24.14 MAD 223
7.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
$22.79 MAD 211
-16.45%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$6.61 MAD 61.2
-40.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$105 MAD 976
190.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$3,557 MAD 32.9K
66.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$38.43 MAD 355
50.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$39.89 MAD 369
-20.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$85.7 MAD 793
16.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$71.4 MAD 660
50.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$279 MAD 2,578
74.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$174 MAD 1,609
111.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$497 MAD 4,600
66.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$300 MAD 2,774
138.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
$1,809 MAD 16.7K
61.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
$873 MAD 8,075
61.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Berkane
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$275 MAD 2,547
98.09%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Berkane: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $279 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 98% 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. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $192 in Berkane – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 42%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,093 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 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 vs Berkane?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $729 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 Medellin or Berkane?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Berkane, where all-in costs run around $729, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.

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