πA single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $476 in Mersa Matruh, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $752 in Mersa Matruh, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,028 in Mersa Matruh, rent included.
πMedellin costs about 114% more than Mersa Matruh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth Medellin and Mersa Matruh are more affordable than the global median β Medellin24% lower, Mersa Matruh65% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 21.4K
$3.64EΒ£189
63.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 119.6K
$15.86EΒ£825
110.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 26.0K
$4.72EΒ£245
53.18%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,848
$1.51EΒ£78.5
7.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,929
$0.29EΒ£15.04
275.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,621
$0.12EΒ£6.21
508.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,237
$1.22EΒ£63.6
42.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.6K
$3.05EΒ£158
5.90%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,766
$0.87EΒ£45.21
20.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,643
$0.72EΒ£37.60
79.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,748
$0.71EΒ£36.67
85.92%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 8,152
$1.46EΒ£75.8
55.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.6K
$3.95EΒ£206
10.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 21.1K
$4.46EΒ£232
31.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.9K
$9.72EΒ£505
-11.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 8,066
$1.42EΒ£73.6
58.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,839
$0.54EΒ£28.03
98.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,473
$0.43EΒ£22.31
253.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 5,105
$0.37EΒ£19.14
283.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,199
$0.38EΒ£19.65
207.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,193
$0.40EΒ£20.88
192.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,183
$0.24EΒ£12.55
270.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,235
$0.18EΒ£9.40
400.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 8,059
$2.02EΒ£105
11.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 39.6K
$5.73EΒ£298
92.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 4,089
$1.34EΒ£69.9
-14.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,537
$2.67EΒ£139
-10.86%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,998
$0.17EΒ£9.06
394.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 150.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 5,051
$0.53EΒ£27.54
166.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,823
$0.43EΒ£22.13
341.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.8K
$2.00EΒ£104
287.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,608
$0.33EΒ£17.23
206.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 63.1M
$35.4KEΒ£1.8M
-50.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 95.1M
$33.4KEΒ£1.7M
-20.78%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 300.3K
$11.36EΒ£591
636.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.9K
$5.80EΒ£301
62.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 86.5K
$9.94EΒ£517
142.56%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 90.8K
$22.08EΒ£1,148
14.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.7K
$2.93EΒ£152
39.93%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$88.8EΒ£4,619
251.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 21.5M
$1,820EΒ£94.6K
229.27%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 208.3K
$27.94EΒ£1,453
107.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 116.9K
$49.40EΒ£2,569
-34.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 357.6K
$107EΒ£5,586
-7.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 389.6K
$50.1EΒ£2,603
116.86%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$192EΒ£9,982
151.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$98.0EΒ£5,093
287.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 3.0M
$312EΒ£16.2K
168.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.6M
$178EΒ£9,236
307.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 10.2M
$706EΒ£36.7K
302.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.4M
$356EΒ£18.5K
243.65%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
$95.8EΒ£4,980
464.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
17
-21.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Mersa Matruh: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $192 in Mersa Matruh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
π°Salaries run about 465% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $16.00 in Mersa Matruh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $130 β making Mersa Matruh 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 Mersa Matruh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mersa Matruh cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Medellin is pricier by about 114%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $714 in Mersa Matruh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mersa Matruh, 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 Mersa Matruh?
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Mersa Matruh?
Groceries cost about 46% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Mersa Matruh?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mersa Matruh, where all-in costs run around $476, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Mersa Matruh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Mersa Matruh more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mersa Matruh β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mersa Matruh. 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.