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 $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $5,442 in Mata Utu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $6,963 in Mata Utu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $8,484 in Mata Utu, rent included.

Medellin is about 69% cheaper than Mata Utu, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Medellin and Mata Utu sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Mata Utu by 298%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.4K

$11.43 CFPF 1,185

-29.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 152.0K

$116 CFPF 12.0K

-58.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 31.4K

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,937

$8.08 CFPF 838

-61.26%

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

$1.91 COP 6,058

$5.86 CFPF 607

-67.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,794

$3.55 CFPF 368

-57.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,917

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 18.3K

$5.74 CFPF 595

0.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,587

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,894

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,631

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,396

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 32.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 32.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 45.4K

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 13.1K

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,106

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,129

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,150

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,486

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,873

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,715

$11.85 CFPF 1,229

-90.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,148

$4.64 CFPF 481

-71.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.4K

$17.31 CFPF 1,795

-77.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 44.5K

$17.48 CFPF 1,813

-19.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,534

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 9,112

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,858

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 255.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,155

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,944

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,334

$1.91 CFPF 198

-28.27%

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

$27.8K COP 88.4M

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

$35.8K COP 113.6M

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

$177 COP 562.9K

$149 CFPF 15.5K

18.95%

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

$13.88 COP 44.1K

$115 CFPF 11.9K

-87.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 94.4K

$3,487 CFPF 361.6K

-99.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 142.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 21.1K

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

$813 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 284.1K

$228 CFPF 23.7K

-60.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 187.2K

$92.1 CFPF 9,548

-35.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 438.8K

$232 CFPF 24.0K

-40.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 324.2K

$296 CFPF 30.7K

-65.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.4M

$915 CFPF 94.9K

16.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$934 CFPF 96.8K

-28.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 6.0M

$2,315 CFPF 240.1K

-18.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.3M

$2,339 CFPF 242.5K

-56.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.2M

$3,490 CFPF 362.0K

-80.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Mata Utu: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $915 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 415% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $116 in Mata Utu. Groceries tell a different story – $305 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: $1,681 in Medellin, $5,442 in Mata Utu – roughly 224% apart. Mata Utu costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $8,163 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $116 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 $1,681 in Medellin and $5,442 in Mata Utu. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Mata Utu at $5,442. 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 $1,681 in Medellin to $5,442 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.