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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $888 in Marrakech, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,365 in Marrakech, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,842 in Marrakech, rent included.

Medellin costs about 16% more than Marrakech, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Marrakech are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Marrakech 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$4.56 MAD 42.55

35.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$33.35 MAD 311

-2.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$7.22 MAD 67.3

1.66%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,600

$2.50 MAD 23.30

-31.20%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$1.23 MAD 11.44

-14.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.59 MAD 5.53

30.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,488

$5.44 MAD 50.7

-68.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$6.47 MAD 60.4

-51.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$0.89 MAD 8.35

17.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$0.59 MAD 5.46

120.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.82 MAD 17.01

-23.08%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,047

$2.03 MAD 18.92

6.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$9.55 MAD 89.0

-54.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$6.29 MAD 58.6

-6.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$11.16 MAD 104

-22.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,426

$1.52 MAD 14.16

50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,604

$1.39 MAD 13.01

-20.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,983

$0.97 MAD 9.01

57.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$0.82 MAD 7.64

64.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$0.78 MAD 7.31

44.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$0.80 MAD 7.44

41.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$0.42 MAD 3.96

102.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.63 MAD 5.90

44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,630

$4.27 MAD 39.86

-45.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$8.00 MAD 74.6

54.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$2.65 MAD 24.67

-54.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$3.05 MAD 28.44

-18.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,728

$0.45 MAD 4.20

86.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$10.79 MAD 101

276.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$0.97 MAD 9.02

46.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$0.48 MAD 4.51

300.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$5.38 MAD 50.2

42.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.52 MAD 14.14

-34.87%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$37.8K MAD 352.1K

-52.25%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$30.2K MAD 281.7K

-11.87%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$32.73 MAD 305

146.90%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$10.96 MAD 102

-9.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$46.56 MAD 434

-48.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.7K

$24.04 MAD 224

4.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$31.63 MAD 295

-39.46%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$6.47 MAD 60.3

-38.49%

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

$305 COP 993.5K

$111 MAD 1,030

176.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$6,450 MAD 60.1K

-6.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$42.93 MAD 400

35.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$50.2 MAD 468

-35.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$107 MAD 995

-5.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$104 MAD 970

3.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$439 MAD 4,093

8.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$276 MAD 2,571

36.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$755 MAD 7,041

11.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$441 MAD 4,111

65.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$1,983 MAD 18.5K

62.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$952 MAD 8,876

44.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$521 MAD 4,857

18.41%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Marrakech: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $439 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 18% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $33.00 in Marrakech. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $196 – 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 16%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,332 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 $305 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 2% 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 $888, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.