Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Marrakech Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Marrakech

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $905 in Marrakech, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,396 in Marrakech, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,888 in Marrakech, rent included.

Medellin costs about 12% more than Marrakech, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Marrakech are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Marrakech 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$4.56 MAD 41.93

31.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$33.31 MAD 306

-1.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$6.99 MAD 64.2

1.43%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$2.54 MAD 23.33

-32.68%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$1.27 MAD 11.63

-13.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.60 MAD 5.55

30.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$5.34 MAD 49.06

-68.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$6.32 MAD 58.1

-51.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$0.90 MAD 8.28

21.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$0.58 MAD 5.35

117.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.75 MAD 16.06

-21.14%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$2.09 MAD 19.19

4.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$9.56 MAD 87.9

-53.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$5.98 MAD 55.0

-5.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$11.03 MAD 101

-19.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$1.58 MAD 14.53

48.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.35 MAD 12.38

-21.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$0.90 MAD 8.27

66.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$0.88 MAD 8.08

56.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$0.80 MAD 7.39

43.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$0.74 MAD 6.83

56.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$0.42 MAD 3.88

111.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.64 MAD 5.88

31.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$4.35 MAD 39.94

-47.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$8.22 MAD 75.5

29.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$2.68 MAD 24.63

-55.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$2.96 MAD 27.18

-16.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.43 MAD 3.92

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$10.91 MAD 100

279.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$1.02 MAD 9.42

44.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$0.51 MAD 4.71

284.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$5.44 MAD 50.0

42.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.58 MAD 14.54

-39.87%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$37.8K MAD 347.2K

-52.01%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$30.1K MAD 276.5K

-11.95%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$31.74 MAD 292

159.14%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$10.91 MAD 100

-12.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$46.40 MAD 426

-47.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$23.72 MAD 218

9.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$32.52 MAD 299

-41.57%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$6.74 MAD 62.0

-41.69%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$111 MAD 1,023

178.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$6,435 MAD 59.1K

-7.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$41.93 MAD 385

39.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$50.0 MAD 460

-35.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$110 MAD 1,013

-6.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$102 MAD 938

6.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$435 MAD 3,997

9.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$283 MAD 2,601

33.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$763 MAD 7,015

9.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$443 MAD 4,072

63.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$1,993 MAD 18.3K

40.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$1,039 MAD 9,550

16.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$528 MAD 4,850

-3.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.75

182.74%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Marrakech: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $435 in Marrakech. 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 3% higher in Marrakech, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $33.00 in Marrakech. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $195 – making Medellin 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 Marrakech: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,357 in Marrakech. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $111 in Marrakech. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Marrakech, where all-in costs run around $905, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Marrakech it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Marrakech – 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 Marrakech. 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.