Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mata Utu Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mata Utu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $5,463 in Mata Utu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $6,834 in Mata Utu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $8,204 in Mata Utu, rent included.

Medellin is about 82% cheaper than Mata Utu, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Mata Utu is 310% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$11.48 CFPF 1,188

-48.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$114 CFPF 11.8K

-71.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$8.16 CFPF 844

-79.78%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$5.96 CFPF 616

-81.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$3.45 CFPF 357

-77.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$5.90 CFPF 611

-46.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$11.44 CFPF 1,184

-92.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$4.76 CFPF 493

-81.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$17.26 CFPF 1,787

-87.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$17.36 CFPF 1,797

-30.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.92 CFPF 199

-48.44%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$150 CFPF 15.5K

-44.57%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$115 CFPF 11.9K

-91.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$3,531 CFPF 365.4K

-99.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

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

$316 COP 994.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$230 CFPF 23.8K

-73.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$91.6 CFPF 9,475

-65.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$228 CFPF 23.6K

-55.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$285 CFPF 29.5K

-62.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$910 CFPF 94.2K

-47.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$939 CFPF 97.1K

-60.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$2,304 CFPF 238.5K

-63.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$2,353 CFPF 243.6K

-69.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$3,417 CFPF 353.7K

-81.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Mata Utu: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $910 in Mata Utu. 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 447% higher in Mata Utu, 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 $114 in Mata Utu. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $138 in Mata Utu – so Mata Utu 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 Mata Utu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,003 in Medellin, $5,463 in Mata Utu – roughly 445% apart. Mata Utu costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $8,195 in Mata Utu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $114 in Mata Utu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $5,463 in Mata Utu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Mata Utu at $5,463. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mata Utu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,003 in Medellin to $5,463 in Mata Utu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mata Utu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.