πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,362 in Mazsalaca.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $2,053 in Mazsalaca.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $2,745 in Mazsalaca.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 26% less than in Mazsalaca, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Mazsalaca is 2% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Mazsalaca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.5K
$11.36β¬9.85
-47.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 118.1K
$58.7β¬50.9
-44.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.5K
$7.39β¬6.41
-4.06%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,155
$3.29β¬2.86
-48.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,950
$1.86β¬1.62
-40.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,799
$1.30β¬1.13
-40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 6,037
$4.79β¬4.16
-64.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$3.09β¬2.68
-0.65%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mazsalaca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,931
$1.32β¬1.15
-17.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,537
$1.70β¬1.47
-25.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,955
$2.89β¬2.51
-52.25%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,878
$3.16β¬2.74
-30.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.8K
$11.73β¬10.18
-62.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.2K
$7.47β¬6.48
-24.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 32.0K
$11.99β¬10.40
-25.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,403
$1.35β¬1.17
73.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,802
$1.72β¬1.49
-38.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,409
$2.54β¬2.20
-40.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,956
$3.46β¬3.00
-60.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,138
$0.96β¬0.83
19.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,183
$0.95β¬0.83
22.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,203
$1.71β¬1.48
-47.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 3,016
$0.83β¬0.72
1.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,198
$5.22β¬4.53
-56.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.3K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,312
$1.88β¬1.63
-36.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,882
$2.21β¬1.92
11.76%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Mazsalaca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,076
$0.94β¬0.81
-8.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 148.8K
$36.87β¬31.98
12.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,298
$2.37β¬2.06
-37.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,055
$0.85β¬0.73
130.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.8K
$11.43β¬9.92
-32.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,431
$1.87β¬1.62
-49.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 65.2M
$30.2Kβ¬26.2K
-39.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 95.2M
$31.3Kβ¬27.1K
-15.29%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mazsalaca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 295.7K
$318β¬275
-74.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 34.2K
$17.68β¬15.34
-46.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 87.1K
$19.93β¬17.29
21.58%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mazsalaca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 93.0K
$50.9β¬44.17
-49.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 68.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.1K
$11.47β¬9.95
-65.74%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mazsalaca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$553β¬480
-44.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.4M
$15.3Kβ¬13.3K
-61.07%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mazsalaca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 210.8K
$92.2β¬80.0
-36.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 116.3K
$46.19β¬40.07
-29.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 368.8K
$94.0β¬81.6
9.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 389.7K
$133β¬115
-18.44%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mazsalaca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$365β¬316
30.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$256β¬222
47.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$743β¬644
12.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$449β¬390
61.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.4M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mazsalaca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.1
227.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mazsalaca: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $365 in Mazsalaca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $59.0 in Mazsalaca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $243 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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 Mazsalaca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Mazsalaca?
Medellin wins on cost β living expenses run 34% lower than in Mazsalaca. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin vs Mazsalaca?
You'd need roughly $1,519 in Medellin and $2,042 in Mazsalaca to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Mazsalaca?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $365 in Mazsalaca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and Mazsalaca?
Childcare runs $309 in Medellin versus $553 in Mazsalaca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Mazsalaca?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Mazsalaca. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Mazsalaca?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,362 in Mazsalaca, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Mazsalaca. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Mazsalaca?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,013 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Mazsalaca?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Mazsalaca are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 34% less than in Mazsalaca. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.