Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mdina

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,639 a month against $1,949 in Mdina, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Mdina, Malta
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Mdina
🇲🇹 Malta
$1,949
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Mdina

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,639 in Medellin versus $1,949 in Mdina.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Mdina $1,949

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,413 in Medellin versus $3,085 in Mdina.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Mdina $3,085

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,186 in Medellin versus $4,222 in Mdina.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Mdina $4,222

Living in Medellin costs roughly 16% less than in Mdina, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 20% above, Mdina 43% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mdina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$19.36 €17.28
-58.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.9K
$87.2 €77.8
-46.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.7K
$13.40 €11.95
-29.10%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,734
$2.75 €2.45
9.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,809
$3.05 €2.72
-40.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,560
$2.20 €1.96
-35.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.3K
$4.67 €4.16
-31.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.6K
$5.09 €4.54
12.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mdina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,875
$1.39 €1.24
8.63%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,677
$1.36 €1.21
75.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,719
$4.44 €3.96
-60.14%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,332
$4.23 €3.78
-31.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$8.04 €7.18
26.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.9K
$10.39 €9.27
-5.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.2K
$18.10 €16.14
-22.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$4.13 €3.69
-3.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,011
$2.75 €2.45
-43.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,047
$3.69 €3.29
-40.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,050
$3.34 €2.98
-34.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,336
$2.25 €2.01
-12.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,131
$1.90 €1.70
-16.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,698
$2.39 €2.13
-51.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,014
$1.34 €1.19
-7.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
$6.66 €5.94
-40.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.2K
$8.08 €7.21
69.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,359
$1.72 €1.53
-3.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,290
$2.33 €2.08
-3.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mdina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,770
$1.91 €1.70
-38.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,094
$5.64 €5.04
-77.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,611
$2.27 €2.02
-9.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
$26.39 €23.55
-67.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,348
$1.54 €1.38
-12.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.0M
$37.8K €33.7K
-9.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.9M
$38.9K €34.7K
-10.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mdina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.7K
$104 €93.0
62.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.7K
$25.71 €22.94
-47.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.6K
$43.38 €38.70
-35.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mdina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 141.1K
$65.3 €58.2
-33.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
$9.93 €8.86
-30.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mdina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$369 €330
115.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
$11.0K €9,771
-16.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mdina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.5K
$86.6 €77.3
-2.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 187.1K
$41.09 €36.66
41.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.7K
$101 €89.8
34.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 316.0K
$78.3 €69.9
24.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mdina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$1,240 €1,106
-2.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$919 €820
-30.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$1,605 €1,432
26.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$1,720 €1,535
-41.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.5M
$4,482 €3,999
-6.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
$2,585 €2,306
-26.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mdina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$1,497 €1,335
-56.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
2.9
277.24%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Mdina: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Mdina
$919 43.2% $277
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Mdina
$327 10% $30
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Mdina
$173 18% $38
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Mdina
$283 66.6% $113
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Mdina
$138 18.3% $31
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Mdina
$25 * 73.7% $69
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Mdina
$85 48% $28

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,208 in Medellin and $1,240 in Mdina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mdina pays about 2.3 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $47 in Medellin vs $87 in Mdina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $327 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇲🇹 Mdina
🕒 Local time
15:08 3:08 PM
21:08 9:08 PM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
193
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,619 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Mdina 9,600 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Mdina

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 Mdina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Mdina?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $1,949 in Mdina, so Medellin is about 16% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 56% lower in Medellin. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Mdina?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,208 in Medellin versus $1,240 in Mdina. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Mdina. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Mdina?
All in, you’ll spend $1,639 per month in Medellin versus $1,949 in Mdina – Medellin is about 16% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How far does $2,500 go in Medellin compared to Mdina?
Either city works on $2,500 a month, though Medellin gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Mdina?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How do I decide between Medellin and Mdina?
It comes down to priorities – Medellin wins on affordability, Mdina on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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