Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Massa

For one person, living costs are similar in Medellin and in Massa: $1,614 and $1,579 a month, rent and utilities included.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Massa
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,579
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Massa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Massa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,614 in Medellin versus $1,579 in Massa.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Massa $1,579

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,402 in Medellin versus $2,524 in Massa.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Massa $2,524

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,190 in Medellin versus $3,470 in Massa.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Massa $3,470

Living in Medellin is roughly 2% more expensive than in Massa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 20% above, Massa 17% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Massa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$17.00 €15.12
-53.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.3K
$73.4 €65.3
-37.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$13.60 €12.10
-30.15%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,866
$2.26 €2.01
37.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,800
$2.31 €2.05
-20.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,360
$1.15 €1.02
20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,672
$4.54 €4.04
-32.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$6.03 €5.36
-8.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Massa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,600
$1.40 €1.25
3.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,496
$2.76 €2.46
-14.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,328
$2.59 €2.30
-35.14%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,077
$4.25 €3.78
-32.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$18.31 €16.29
-44.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$13.06 €11.62
-27.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
$17.36 €15.44
-19.12%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$2.26 €2.01
80.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,742
$1.71 €1.52
-12.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,891
$1.96 €1.74
10.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,310
$2.47 €2.20
-6.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,113
$1.30 €1.16
48.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,196
$1.36 €1.21
20.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,571
$1.66 €1.47
-31.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,954
$0.60 €0.53
108.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$6.53 €5.81
-38.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$7.93 €7.05
68.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,384
$1.60 €1.42
6.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,525
$1.85 €1.64
28.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Massa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,827
$1.70 €1.51
-28.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.5K
$41.07 €36.53
86.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,179
$5.42 €4.82
-75.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,774
$1.47 €1.31
45.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$27.70 €24.64
-69.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,114
$1.97 €1.75
-34.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$36.6K €32.6K
-23.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.3M
$35.4K €31.5K
-0.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Massa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.6K
$237 €211
-27.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$11.74 €10.45
13.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.1K
$27.78 €24.71
3.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Massa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.5K
$55.1 €48.97
-17.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
$23.85 €21.21
-28.55%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$9.21 €8.19
-31.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Massa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$559 €497
37.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
$4,386 €3,902
105.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Massa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.0K
$87.8 €78.1
-1.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.1K
$42.33 €37.65
34.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.9K
$93.5 €83.1
46.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.4K
$156 €139
-37.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Massa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
$603 €536
75.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$414 €368
48.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$1,079 €960
75.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
$851 €757
20.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
$2,915 €2,593
39.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
$2,038 €1,812
-17.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Massa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$1,690 €1,504
-61.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.46
216.18%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Massa: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Massa
$414 32.8% $202
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Massa
$331 12.4% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Massa
$276 29% $62
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Massa
$171 0.5% $0.8
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Massa
$253 50% $84
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Massa
$61 35% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Massa
$73 27.1% $16

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,055 in Medellin and $603 in Massa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Massa pays 159% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $46.00 in Medellin vs $73.0 in Massa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $331 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇮🇹 Massa
🕒 Local time
21:50 9:50 PM
04:50 4:50 AM
7 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
69,479
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Massa 9,180 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Massa

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 Massa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Massa?
Medellin and Massa differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,614 vs $1,579 including rent). Massa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 159% lower in Massa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Massa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,055 in Medellin versus $603 in Massa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Massa – a meal for two runs $73.0 versus $46.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Massa?
All in, you'll spend $1,614 per month in Medellin versus $1,579 in Massa – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,579 in Massa versus $1,614 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Massa but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Massa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Massa?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Massa safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Massa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Massa?
Expats usually find Massa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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