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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $641 in Laayoune, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,012 in Laayoune, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,384 in Laayoune, rent included.

Medellin costs about 56% more than Laayoune, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Laayoune are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Laayoune 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$3.97 MAD 37.05

48.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$29.09 MAD 271

13.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$4.74 MAD 44.18

56.75%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.61 MAD 15.00

2.48%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.52 MAD 4.83

111.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.35 MAD 3.22

122.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$3.40 MAD 31.69

-49.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$4.74 MAD 44.22

-32.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$0.78 MAD 7.27

41.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.56 MAD 5.26

125.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.86 MAD 17.37

-25.81%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.41 MAD 13.16

54.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$11.47 MAD 107

-60.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$3.43 MAD 31.95

68.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$9.15 MAD 85.3

-1.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.51 MAD 14.11

53.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.13 MAD 10.54

-6.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$0.67 MAD 6.25

126.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$0.56 MAD 5.21

142.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.48 MAD 4.48

135.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.34 MAD 3.13

244.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.91 MAD 8.48

-1.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.57 MAD 5.28

57.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$3.39 MAD 31.57

-26.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.60 MAD 5.61

41.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$11.64 MAD 109

257.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.73 MAD 6.77

94.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.66 MAD 6.11

195.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.23 MAD 11.45

-19.51%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$38.8K MAD 361.9K

-54.65%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$26.7K MAD 249.2K

0.26%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$32.21 MAD 300

157.71%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$22.47 MAD 210

4.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$22.78 MAD 212

10.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$34.05 MAD 317

-43.91%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$3.40 MAD 31.67

16.18%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$286 MAD 2,667

10.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$3,476 MAD 32.4K

71.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$34.07 MAD 318

76.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$57.9 MAD 540

-45.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$75.3 MAD 702

35.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$82.6 MAD 770

30.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$349 MAD 3,255

36.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$176 MAD 1,643

112.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$685 MAD 6,385

24.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$293 MAD 2,734

145.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Laayoune: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $349 in Laayoune. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $29.00 in Laayoune. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $145 – making Laayoune 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 Laayoune: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 56%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $962 in Laayoune. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Laayoune, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $29.00 in Laayoune. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Laayoune, where all-in costs run around $641, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.