😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $365 in Masallatah, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $570 in Masallatah, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $775 in Masallatah, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 360% more than Masallatah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Masallatah is 73% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Masallatah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$4.05LYD 25.69
98.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$14.91LYD 94.5
221.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$2.57LYD 16.28
284.82%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.61LYD 3.89
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.62LYD 3.91
-
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$0.43LYD 2.74
627.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$0.42LYD 2.65
354.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$0.10LYD 0.64
1410.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Masallatah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$0.90LYD 5.72
60.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$0.22LYD 1.40
1031.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$1.13LYD 7.17
56.64%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$1.40LYD 8.86
111.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$4.94LYD 31.31
103.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$3.23LYD 20.49
213.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$9.83LYD 62.3
45.47%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$2.32LYD 14.72
78.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$1.51LYD 9.57
6.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$0.75LYD 4.77
200.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$0.56LYD 3.55
301.79%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$0.67LYD 4.25
204.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$0.46LYD 2.93
234.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$0.43LYD 2.73
172.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.21LYD 1.31
523.81%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.77LYD 11.23
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.04LYD 6.58
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.81LYD 5.11
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$2.02LYD 12.83
93.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Masallatah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$0.76LYD 4.82
72.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$0.45LYD 2.86
386.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$0.02LYD 0.12
6750.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$23.2KLYD 147.3K
19.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$14.4KLYD 91.0K
149.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Masallatah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$93.4LYD 592
89.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$5.82LYD 36.89
138.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$27.21LYD 172
9.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Masallatah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Masallatah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$52.0LYD 330
1462.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$625LYD 3,959
1370.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Masallatah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$21.14LYD 134
323.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$17.74LYD 112
232.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$55.6LYD 352
148.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$67.9LYD 430
50.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Masallatah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Masallatah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Masallatah: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $15.00 in Masallatah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $115 – making Masallatah 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 Masallatah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Masallatah cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 360%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $548 in Masallatah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Masallatah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $365 in Masallatah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $813 per month in Medellin and $52.0 in Masallatah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Masallatah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Masallatah, where all-in costs run around $365, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Masallatah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Masallatah more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Masallatah – 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 Masallatah. 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.