Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Los Mochis Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Los Mochis

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $1,167 in Los Mochis, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $1,852 in Los Mochis, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $2,538 in Los Mochis, rent included.

Medellin costs about 47% more than Los Mochis, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Los Mochis is 15% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Los Mochis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.2K
$7.18 MX$121
11.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 151.7K
$34.80 MX$588
38.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.7K
$11.62 MX$196
-15.92%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,149
$3.47 MX$58.7
-16.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,110
$1.17 MX$19.71
65.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,783
$1.08 MX$18.26
40.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,721
$2.88 MX$48.64
7.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 18.1K
$3.69 MX$62.4
55.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Los Mochis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,287
$1.81 MX$30.63
-24.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,505
$2.62 MX$44.30
-8.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,346
$1.57 MX$26.46
8.28%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 9,021
$2.55 MX$43.06
12.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.2K
$7.96 MX$135
24.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.9K
$8.22 MX$139
31.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.3K
$13.14 MX$222
12.10%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$2.54 MX$42.86
61.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,940
$1.52 MX$25.61
3.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,682
$1.97 MX$33.33
8.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,959
$2.02 MX$34.22
9.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,435
$2.29 MX$38.64
-10.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,728
$1.81 MX$30.61
-17.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,740
$1.53 MX$25.93
-22.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,640
$1.17 MX$19.85
-0.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$4.46 MX$75.3
-12.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.4K
$11.48 MX$194
25.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,978
$2.01 MX$33.92
-21.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,889
$3.53 MX$59.6
-19.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Los Mochis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,672
$0.73 MX$12.39
60.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 244.3K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,038
$2.75 MX$46.52
-53.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,576
$2.08 MX$35.14
0.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 27.1K
$11.72 MX$198
-26.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,080
$1.58 MX$26.71
-17.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.9M
$22.5K MX$380.1K
23.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 111.6M
$26.0K MX$440.1K
36.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Los Mochis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 553.4K
$58.0 MX$981
203.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.0K
$24.07 MX$407
-44.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 94.0K
$32.10 MX$543
-6.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Los Mochis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 140.7K
$36.52 MX$617
22.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.6K
$21.24 MX$359
-19.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.5K
$5.61 MX$94.8
10.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Los Mochis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$253 MX$4,271
213.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.4M
$4,876 MX$82.4K
84.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Los Mochis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 269.1K
$59.8 MX$1,010
43.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 183.8K
$45.37 MX$767
28.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 428.4K
$108 MX$1,826
26.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 324.1K
$91.7 MX$1,551
12.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Los Mochis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$663 MX$11.2K
59.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$413 MX$6,973
64.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$1,134 MX$19.2K
77.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$811 MX$13.7K
44.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.9M
$2,157 MX$36.5K
90.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$1,420 MX$24.0K
19.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Los Mochis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
$708 MX$12.0K
-5.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
11.3
-3.19%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Los Mochis: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $663 in Los Mochis. 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 6% higher in Los Mochis, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $35.00 in Los Mochis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $276 – making Los Mochis 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 Los Mochis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Los Mochis?
Medellin costs about 47% more than Los Mochis, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Los Mochis?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $1,751 in Los Mochis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Los Mochis?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Los Mochis, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Los Mochis?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $35.00 in Los Mochis. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Los Mochis?
Groceries cost about 10% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Los Mochis?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Los Mochis, where all-in costs run around $1,167, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Los Mochis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Los Mochis?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Los Mochis costs $1,167 versus $1,716 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Medellin or to Los Mochis?
If budget matters most, go with Los Mochis. 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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