😐A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $774 in Madaba, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $1,360 in Madaba, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $1,946 in Madaba, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 112% more than Madaba, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Madaba is 44% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Madaba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$5.70JOD 4.03
41.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$49.91JOD 35.32
-3.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$6.18JOD 4.37
52.43%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$3.45JOD 2.44
-14.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$0.61JOD 0.44
204.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$0.60JOD 0.42
143.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$4.35JOD 3.08
-26.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$6.89JOD 4.87
-17.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Madaba
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$1.43JOD 1.01
0.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$0.68JOD 0.48
252.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$1.51JOD 1.07
12.58%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$1.71JOD 1.21
69.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$4.20JOD 2.97
139.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$5.77JOD 4.08
72.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$12.61JOD 8.92
12.61%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$2.46JOD 1.74
61.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$1.45JOD 1.02
8.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$1.83JOD 1.30
17.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$0.68JOD 0.48
238.24%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$0.68JOD 0.48
194.12%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$0.69JOD 0.49
118.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$0.34JOD 0.24
252.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$0.58JOD 0.41
120.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$2.09JOD 1.48
83.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$21.56JOD 15.26
-35.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$5.29JOD 3.75
-67.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$5.00JOD 3.54
-45.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Madaba
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$0.89JOD 0.63
40.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
$71.7JOD 50.7
8.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$0.64JOD 0.45
104.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$1.38JOD 0.98
57.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$7.12JOD 5.04
16.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$1.36JOD 0.96
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$35.8KJOD 25.3K
-23.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$35.1KJOD 24.8K
4.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Madaba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$71.3JOD 50.5
136.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$14.19JOD 10.04
-4.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$21.40JOD 15.14
32.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Madaba
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$27.90JOD 19.74
63.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
$69.7JOD 49.30
-75.28%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$11.22JOD 7.94
-40.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Madaba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$41.55JOD 29.40
1833.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$9,350JOD 6,617
-1.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Madaba
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$64.7JOD 45.79
35.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$55.6JOD 39.34
6.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$69.8JOD 49.40
99.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$42.41JOD 30.02
140.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Madaba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$208JOD 147
415.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$42.78JOD 30.27
1426.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$424JOD 300
354.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$210JOD 149
397.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Madaba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$494JOD 350
32.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.81
60.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Madaba: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $208 in Madaba. 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 33% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $50.0 in Madaba. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Medellin vs $236 in Madaba – so Madaba 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 Madaba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Madaba?
Medellin costs about 112% more than Madaba, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Madaba?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $1,161 in Madaba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Madaba?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Madaba, 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 Madaba?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $50.0 in Madaba. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Madaba?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $774 in Madaba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Madaba?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Madaba, where all-in costs run around $774, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Madaba 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 Madaba?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Madaba costs $774 versus $1,641 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 Madaba?
If budget matters most, go with Madaba. 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.