Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Laayoune Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Laayoune

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $123 in Laayoune, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $178 in Laayoune, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $232 in Laayoune, rent included.

Medellin costs about 1271% more than Laayoune, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Laayoune is 91% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.4K

$4.16 MAD 39.57

92.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 152.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 31.4K

$3.50 MAD 33.28

182.57%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,937

$2.13 MAD 20.24

46.95%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 COP 6,058

$0.44 MAD 4.18

334.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,794

$0.33 MAD 3.16

357.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,917

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 18.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,587

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,894

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,631

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,396

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 32.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 32.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 45.4K

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 13.1K

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,106

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,129

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,150

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,486

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,873

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,715

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,148

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.4K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 44.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,534

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 9,112

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,858

$0.70 MAD 6.69

74.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 255.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,155

$0.77 MAD 7.36

70.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,944

$0.70 MAD 6.71

212.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,334

$1.38 MAD 13.17

-0.72%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K COP 88.4M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.8K COP 113.6M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$177 COP 562.9K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.88 COP 44.1K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 94.4K

$21.33 MAD 203

39.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 142.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 21.1K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$813 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 284.1K

$47.06 MAD 448

90.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 187.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 438.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 324.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 6.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.2M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Laayoune: September 13, 2026

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 Laayoune: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 1271%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $184 in Laayoune. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Laayoune, where all-in costs run around $123, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Laayoune it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Laayoune – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Laayoune. 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.