Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and the Maldives
For one person, living is cheaper in the Maldives: $1,501 a month against $1,589 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $1,100 less a year. The total is higher in Medellin despite lower rent and utilities.
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Medellin Living Index77Cost of Living Index in MedellinLearn more -
Maldives Living Index72Cost of Living Index in the MaldivesLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 17.3% more expensive than the Maldives without rent, and 5.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 16.3% more expensive than the Maldives without rent, and 4.3% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Maldives
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01 COP 25.8K
$6.54 MVR 101
22.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55 COP 149.9K
$49.62 MVR 765
-6.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 COP 30.4K
$10.00 MVR 154
-5.70%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.97 MVR 76.6
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$9.82 MVR 151
-
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,374
$3.27 MVR 50.4
-11.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 COP 5,643
$1.51 MVR 23.32
15.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 COP 4,263
$0.31 MVR 4.81
325.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 COP 10.1K
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Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 COP 17.9K
-
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🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Maldives
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 COP 4,542
$1.88 MVR 29.01
-25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 COP 7,858
$1.56 MVR 24.10
56.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,245
$1.04 MVR 16.04
56.73%
Eggs
$2.82 COP 9,084
$1.75 MVR 27.04
61.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 COP 31.2K
$6.18 MVR 95.4
56.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.32 COP 30.0K
$6.75 MVR 104
38.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 COP 43.3K
$10.03 MVR 155
34.20%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 COP 12.9K
$3.98 MVR 61.3
0.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 COP 4,768
$2.99 MVR 46.12
-50.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 COP 6,839
$3.88 MVR 59.8
-45.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,253
$2.56 MVR 39.48
-12.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 COP 6,155
$1.75 MVR 26.93
9.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 COP 5,214
$1.75 MVR 26.99
-7.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,696
$2.23 MVR 34.38
-48.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 COP 4,063
$0.60 MVR 9.25
110.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$11.14 MVR 172
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.53 MVR 39.01
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.61 MVR 71.1
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82 COP 12.3K
$15.06 MVR 232
-74.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.11 COP 42.2K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 5,136
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,263
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Maldives
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,770
$0.68 MVR 10.51
72.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.0 COP 241.5K
$28.89 MVR 446
159.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,098
$1.89 MVR 29.15
-32.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,600
$1.95 MVR 30.12
5.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 COP 26.4K
$8.02 MVR 124
2.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 COP 4,088
$0.99 MVR 15.19
28.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K COP 86.2M
$31.7K MVR 489.3K
-15.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K COP 110.8M
$29.9K MVR 460.5K
15.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Maldives
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 COP 522.3K
$132 MVR 2,038
22.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 COP 42.3K
$30.76 MVR 474
-57.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09 COP 90.5K
$68.3 MVR 1,052
-58.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Maldives
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.33 COP 142.7K
$63.4 MVR 978
-30.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 COP 52.6K
$21.44 MVR 331
-23.83%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 COP 19.6K
$9.03 MVR 139
-32.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Maldives
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$764 COP 2.5M
$183 MVR 2,826
317.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,904 COP 28.7M
$2,922 MVR 45.1K
204.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Maldives
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 COP 273.6K
$37.67 MVR 581
125.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 COP 185.1K
$50.1 MVR 772
14.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 COP 424.2K
$86.1 MVR 1,327
53.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 COP 308.3K
$51.9 MVR 800
84.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Maldives
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$911 MVR 14.0K
12.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 COP 1.9M
$672 MVR 10.4K
-10.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 COP 5.8M
$1,927 MVR 29.7K
-6.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$993 COP 3.2M
$1,467 MVR 22.6K
-32.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,921 COP 12.6M
$2,641 MVR 40.7K
48.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,639 COP 5.3M
$781 MVR 12.0K
109.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Maldives
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$626 COP 2.0M
$783 MVR 12.1K
-20.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
14
-21.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Last update for the Maldives: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $604 38.3%
Maldives $672 45.5% 11.2% $67
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $288 18.3%
Maldives $219 14.8% 24.1% $69
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $203 12.9%
Maldives $231 15.7% 13.6% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $166 10.6%
Maldives $102 6.9% 39% $65
Eating Out
Medellin $166 10.6%
Maldives $129 8.7% 22.5% $37
Getting Around
Medellin $91 5.8%
Maldives $43 2.9% 52.6% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $57 3.6%
Maldives $81 5.5% 44.2% $25
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $993 31.9%
Maldives $1.5K 44.9% 47.8% $474
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $664 21.3%
Maldives $537 16.4% 19.2% $127
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $217 7%
Maldives $262 8% 21% $45
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $370 11.9%
Maldives $226 6.9% 39% $144
Eating Out
Medellin $560 18%
Maldives $505 15.5% 9.7% $54
Getting Around
Medellin $185 5.9%
Maldives $88 2.7% 52.4% $97
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $129 4.2%
Maldives $184 5.6% 42.6% $55
Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇲🇻 Maldives
Weather
Population
2,486,723
436,330
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Medellin Maldives 16,390 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
- Medellin
- Maldives
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,203
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,561
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Johannesburg
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,406
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Bogota
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,310
/mo nomad
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