😐A single person spends $1,014 per month in Medellin vs $679 in Maoming, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,596 per month in Medellin vs $1,096 in Maoming, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,178 per month in Medellin vs $1,514 in Maoming, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 49% more than Maoming, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Maoming are more affordable than the global median – Medellin25% lower, Maoming50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Maoming
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14COP 22.2K
$2.04¥13.95
200.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05COP 119.3K
$21.26¥145
55.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.32COP 26.4K
$3.90¥26.65
87.69%
Cappuccino
$1.66COP 5,987
$2.97¥20.30
-44.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,987
$0.46¥3.11
139.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,822
$0.27¥1.83
188.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.71COP 6,188
$0.93¥6.38
83.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 11.5K
$2.07¥14.17
53.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Maoming
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11COP 4,012
$1.58¥10.80
-29.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,719
$1.54¥10.51
-14.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,980
$0.92¥6.27
50.00%
Eggs
$2.22COP 8,009
$1.57¥10.75
41.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.34COP 15.7K
$13.04¥89.1
-66.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COP 20.9K
$3.10¥21.18
87.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.98COP 32.4K
$10.39¥71.0
-13.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26COP 8,164
$1.73¥11.83
30.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 4,023
$1.26¥8.63
-11.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46COP 5,284
$1.40¥9.57
4.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,929
$1.08¥7.36
26.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11COP 4,009
$0.73¥4.97
52.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,199
$0.91¥6.24
27.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,211
$0.56¥3.83
58.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87COP 3,124
$0.54¥3.71
61.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COP 8,495
$3.09¥21.09
-23.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.86COP 39.2K
$10.19¥69.6
6.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,330
$0.75¥5.14
60.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,946
$1.60¥10.94
55.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Maoming
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,842
$0.29¥2.00
172.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.77COP 147.2K
$17.00¥116
139.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 5,137
$1.41¥9.65
0.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,900
$0.32¥2.22
496.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.65COP 27.6K
$6.57¥44.88
16.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97COP 3,490
$1.13¥7.74
-14.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOP 65.3M
$19.5K¥133.0K
-7.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KCOP 95.0M
$16.5K¥112.5K
59.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Maoming
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3COP 293.5K
$45.91¥314
77.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63COP 34.8K
$10.08¥68.8
-4.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36COP 88.0K
$11.42¥78.0
113.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Maoming
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.02COP 93.9K
$31.14¥213
-16.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92COP 68.3K
$13.97¥95.4
35.43%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89COP 14.0K
$6.09¥41.59
-36.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Maoming
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304COP 1.1M
$340¥2,319
-10.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,902COP 21.3M
$17.0K¥116.3K
-65.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Maoming
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COP 211.8K
$43.12¥295
36.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48COP 117.2K
$30.51¥208
6.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 367.3K
$70.9¥484
43.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 390.4K
$74.2¥507
45.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Maoming
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$474COP 1.7M
$283¥1,933
67.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COP 1.3M
$187¥1,278
98.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$848COP 3.1M
$599¥4,094
41.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$354¥2,415
102.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,871COP 10.4M
$2,989¥20.4K
-3.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,375COP 5.0M
$2,139¥14.6K
-35.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Maoming
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$542COP 2.0M
$1,012¥6,914
-46.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
3.87
247.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026
Last update for Maoming: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Medellin versus $283 in Maoming. 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 87% higher in Maoming, 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 $33 in Medellin versus $21 in Maoming. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $194 in Maoming – so Medellin 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 Maoming: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maoming cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,522 per month in Medellin and $1,018 in Maoming. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maoming, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Maoming?
Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Maoming?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $21.00 in Maoming. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Maoming?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maoming, where all-in costs run around $679, than in Medellin at $1,014. In Maoming it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Maoming more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Maoming – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Maoming. 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.