Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mata Utu

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,692 a month against $5,223 in Mata Utu, rent and utilities included – about $42,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Mata Utu, Wallis and Futuna
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Mata Utu
🇼🇫 Wallis and Futuna
$5,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Mata Utu

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 Mata Utu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,692 per month in Medellin vs $5,223 in Mata Utu, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Mata Utu $5,223

A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Medellin vs $6,629 in Mata Utu, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Mata Utu $6,629

A family of three spends $3,249 per month in Medellin vs $8,036 in Mata Utu, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Mata Utu $8,036

Medellin is about 68% cheaper than Mata Utu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Medellin and Mata Utu sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Mata Utu by 286%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mata Utu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 26.9K
$11.02 CFPF 1,169
-24.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.2K
$112 CFPF 11.9K
-58.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.6K
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.1K
$7.94 CFPF 842
-60.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,702
$5.67 CFPF 602
-68.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,599
$3.37 CFPF 357
-57.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.4K
$5.64 CFPF 599
1.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mata Utu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,948
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,397
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,279
-
-
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,900
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.3K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.7K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.1K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,934
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,794
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,405
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,810
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,518
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,778
$11.28 CFPF 1,197
-89.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,101
$4.38 CFPF 465
-63.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.6K
$16.67 CFPF 1,767
-76.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.3K
$17.11 CFPF 1,814
-17.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,688
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,756
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mata Utu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,809
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 246.3K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,833
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,874
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.3K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,117
$1.91 CFPF 202
-32.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.2M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mata Utu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 573.8K
$145 CFPF 15.4K
22.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 44.8K
$113 CFPF 12.0K
-87.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.2K
$3,320 CFPF 352.1K
-99.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mata Utu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 135.4K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.1K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mata Utu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.6M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mata Utu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 278.7K
$228 CFPF 24.2K
-62.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 191.3K
$90.9 CFPF 9,638
-34.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 446.6K
$225 CFPF 23.9K
-38.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 319.0K
$280 CFPF 29.7K
-64.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mata Utu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$886 CFPF 94.0K
51.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$912 CFPF 96.7K
-26.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$2,234 CFPF 236.9K
-11.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$2,269 CFPF 240.6K
-54.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mata Utu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
$3,371 CFPF 357.5K
-80.83%
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: November 2, 2026

Last update for Mata Utu: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Mata Utu
–
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Mata Utu
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Mata Utu
–
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Mata Utu
–
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Mata Utu
–
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Mata Utu
–
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Mata Utu
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,341 in Medellin versus $886 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 in Mata Utu are about 5.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $112 in Mata Utu. Groceries tell a different story – $307 in Medellin vs $132 in Mata Utu – so Mata Utu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇼🇫 Mata Utu
🕒 Local time
14:20 2:20 PM
07:20 7:20 AM
17 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
1,200 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

XPF, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,610 COP (10,000 COP = 2.77 EUR).

CFP Franc exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 106 XPF (1,000 XPF = 9.43 USD). 1 EUR = 119 XPF (1,000 XPF = 8.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Mata Utu 11,310 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Mata Utu

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 Mata Utu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Mata Utu compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,692 in Medellin, $5,223 in Mata Utu – Medellin comes out roughly 68% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in utilities.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Mata Utu?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,538 per month in Medellin and $7,835 in Mata Utu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Mata Utu?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mata Utu, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $886 there versus $1,341 in Medellin.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $112 in Mata Utu. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Mata Utu?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,692 in Medellin and $5,223 in Mata Utu. That makes Medellin about 68% cheaper.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,692, than in Mata Utu at $5,223. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mata Utu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Mata Utu?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,692 in Medellin to $5,223 in Mata Utu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Mata Utu?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mata Utu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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