😐A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $473 in Mersa Matruh, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $777 in Mersa Matruh, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $1,081 in Mersa Matruh, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 247% more than Mersa Matruh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Mersa Matruh is 66% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 25.1K
$4.31E£219
86.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 150.7K
$16.68E£849
189.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.4K
$4.83E£246
95.03%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,169
$1.32E£67.0
122.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,817
$0.35E£17.56
431.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,543
$0.11E£5.66
1227.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 10.0K
$1.36E£69.4
136.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.8K
$2.87E£146
98.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,491
$0.85E£43.34
69.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,494
$0.71E£36.12
238.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,302
$0.62E£31.75
174.19%
Eggs
$2.89COP 9,022
$1.21E£61.7
138.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 31.4K
$3.81E£194
164.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 31.1K
$4.59E£234
117.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 44.3K
$9.29E£473
52.85%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.4K
$1.57E£79.8
153.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,947
$0.79E£40.08
100.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,718
$0.58E£29.38
270.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,178
$0.38E£19.35
505.26%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,257
$0.25E£12.72
700.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,712
$0.33E£16.85
357.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,754
$0.27E£13.69
344.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 4,002
$0.22E£11.19
481.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 12.0K
$2.00E£102
92.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$6.02E£306
132.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,331
$1.29E£65.6
32.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,560
$2.74E£139
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,888
$0.20E£10.16
525.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 243.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,073
$0.57E£28.80
129.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,775
$0.42E£21.47
416.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.9K
$1.91E£97.3
334.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,231
$0.44E£22.46
209.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 85.7M
$33.9KE£1.7M
-18.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 114.0M
$28.6KE£1.5M
27.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 526.6K
$14.34E£729
1076.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 42.4K
$7.11E£362
90.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 88.4K
$13.70E£697
106.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 142.7K
$18.94E£963
141.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.8K
$2.99E£152
122.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$84.7E£4,309
848.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.7M
$2,122E£108.0K
333.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 272.7K
$32.80E£1,668
166.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 185.3K
$44.31E£2,254
33.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 433.6K
$126E£6,394
10.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.5K
$54.7E£2,781
86.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$141E£7,169
659.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$77.5E£3,943
742.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 6.0M
$263E£13.4K
632.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.3M
$152E£7,732
589.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.9M
$786E£40.0K
424.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.3M
$447E£22.7K
279.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$97.6E£4,964
571.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
21.33
-48.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Mersa Matruh: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $141 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.
💰Salaries run about 571% 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 $17.00 in Mersa Matruh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $131 – 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 – Medellin is pricier by about 247%, 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $710 in Mersa Matruh. 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 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 in Mersa Matruh?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $17.00 in Mersa Matruh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Mersa Matruh?
Groceries cost about 129% 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 living in Medellin or in Mersa Matruh?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mersa Matruh, where all-in costs run around $473, than in Medellin at $1,641. 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 – 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.