😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $731 in Meknes, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,128 in Meknes, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,525 in Meknes, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 130% more than Meknes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Meknes is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Meknes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$3.25MAD 30.81
146.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$15.66MAD 149
205.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$6.38MAD 60.6
55.02%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$1.25MAD 11.89
150.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$0.91MAD 8.62
109.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$0.42MAD 4.00
259.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$3.10MAD 29.36
0.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$3.68MAD 34.89
56.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Meknes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$0.84MAD 7.97
71.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$0.40MAD 3.77
522.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$1.26MAD 11.90
40.48%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$1.86MAD 17.68
59.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$15.28MAD 145
-34.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$5.29MAD 50.2
91.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$9.69MAD 91.9
47.57%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$1.31MAD 12.40
216.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$1.23MAD 11.68
30.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$0.67MAD 6.33
235.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$0.60MAD 5.66
275.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$0.56MAD 5.32
264.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$0.80MAD 7.59
92.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$0.47MAD 4.50
148.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.58MAD 5.53
125.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$4.14MAD 39.30
-5.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$10.87MAD 103
28.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$3.33MAD 31.59
-47.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$2.66MAD 25.21
7.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Meknes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$0.43MAD 4.13
183.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$16.13MAD 153
398.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$0.73MAD 6.91
79.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$0.54MAD 5.15
305.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$1.43MAD 13.55
-4.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$34.8KMAD 330.4K
-20.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$31.2KMAD 296.0K
14.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Meknes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$31.36MAD 297
465.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$9.65MAD 91.5
43.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$34.69MAD 329
-14.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Meknes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$29.45MAD 279
52.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$34.01MAD 323
-49.66%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$4.15MAD 39.35
60.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Meknes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$127MAD 1,201
542.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Meknes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$67.2MAD 637
33.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$64.3MAD 609
-8.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$104MAD 982
33.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$67.3MAD 638
51.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Meknes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$276MAD 2,616
285.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$177MAD 1,676
275.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$473MAD 4,490
298.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$295MAD 2,794
248.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$982MAD 9,308
326.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$631MAD 5,988
165.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Meknes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$479MAD 4,543
41.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.5
143.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Meknes: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $276 in Meknes. 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 41% higher in Medellin, 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 $16.00 in Meknes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $202 – making Meknes the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Meknes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Meknes cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 130%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,097 in Meknes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Meknes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Meknes?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $16.00 in Meknes. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Meknes?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $731 in Meknes. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Meknes?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Meknes, where all-in costs run around $731, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Meknes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Meknes more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Meknes – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Meknes?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Meknes. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.