Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Matola Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Matola

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,024 in Matola, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,519 in Matola, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,014 in Matola, rent included.

Medellin is about 1% cheaper than Matola, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Medellin and Matola are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Matola 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$7.67 MZN 485

-21.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$48.94 MZN 3,095

-32.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$7.60 MZN 481

-6.71%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$1.60 MZN 101

6.87%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.75 MZN 47.55

46.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.58 MZN 36.58

34.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$1.19 MZN 75.2

41.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$1.60 MZN 101

91.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.57 MZN 99.1

-30.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$1.04 MZN 65.8

21.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.69 MZN 107

-18.34%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$1.92 MZN 122

14.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$13.03 MZN 824

-66.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$5.28 MZN 334

6.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$4.65 MZN 294

91.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$1.97 MZN 124

18.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$0.63 MZN 39.82

68.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$1.34 MZN 84.6

11.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$0.99 MZN 62.6

39.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$0.93 MZN 59.1

23.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$0.67 MZN 42.60

73.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$0.99 MZN 62.4

-10.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.53 MZN 33.63

58.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$2.61 MZN 165

-12.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$7.14 MZN 451

49.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$0.98 MZN 61.8

22.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$1.29 MZN 81.4

91.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$1.60 MZN 101

-8.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$2.89 MZN 183

-32.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$24.44 MZN 1,545

-68.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.31 MZN 83.1

-27.48%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$35.8K MZN 2.3M

-49.35%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$19.7K MZN 1.2M

34.41%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$38.50 MZN 2,435

113.64%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$14.16 MZN 895

-32.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$79.6 MZN 5,031

-69.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$39.34 MZN 2,488

-34.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$7.67 MZN 485

-48.76%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$185 MZN 11.7K

67.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$5,823 MZN 368.2K

2.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$49.19 MZN 3,111

19.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$62.7 MZN 3,966

-48.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$82.7 MZN 5,227

24.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$80.4 MZN 5,085

34.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$475 MZN 30.1K

0.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$396 MZN 25.0K

-4.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$794 MZN 50.2K

5.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$579 MZN 36.6K

24.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$310 MZN 19.6K

65.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

24.33

-44.80%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Matola: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $475 in Matola. 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 65% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $49.00 in Matola. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Medellin vs $180 in Matola – so Matola 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 Matola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,013 in Medellin, $1,024 in Matola – roughly 1% apart. Matola costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,535 in Matola. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $1,024 in Matola. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $185 in Matola. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Matola at $1,024. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Matola 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 $1,013 in Medellin to $1,024 in Matola. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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