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 $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $5,370 in Mata Utu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $6,831 in Mata Utu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $8,291 in Mata Utu, rent included.

Medellin is about 81% cheaper than Mata Utu, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Mata Utu is 301% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$11.67 CFPF 1,190

-49.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$114 CFPF 11.7K

-71.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$7.90 CFPF 806

-78.48%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$5.91 CFPF 603

-81.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$3.51 CFPF 358

-79.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$5.62 CFPF 574

-44.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$11.66 CFPF 1,190

-92.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$4.73 CFPF 483

-80.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$17.51 CFPF 1,786

-86.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$17.84 CFPF 1,820

-37.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.98 CFPF 202

-52.53%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$149 CFPF 15.2K

-43.65%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$114 CFPF 11.6K

-91.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$3,446 CFPF 351.6K

-99.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

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

$306 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$236 CFPF 24.1K

-75.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$93.5 CFPF 9,538

-65.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$234 CFPF 23.9K

-57.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$286 CFPF 29.1K

-62.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$922 CFPF 94.0K

-47.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$943 CFPF 96.2K

-60.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$2,268 CFPF 231.5K

-63.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$2,294 CFPF 234.1K

-68.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$3,469 CFPF 354.0K

-84.27%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mata Utu: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $922 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 536% 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 – $190 in Medellin vs $139 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: $1,034 in Medellin, $5,370 in Mata Utu – roughly 420% apart. Mata Utu costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $8,056 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 $1,034 in Medellin and $5,370 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 $1,034, than in Mata Utu at $5,370. 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 $1,034 in Medellin to $5,370 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.