😐A single person spends $1,018 per month in Medellin vs $465 in Mersa Matruh, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,609 per month in Medellin vs $755 in Mersa Matruh, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,200 per month in Medellin vs $1,045 in Mersa Matruh, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 119% more than Mersa Matruh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Mersa Matruh are more affordable than the global median – Medellin24% lower, Mersa Matruh65% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93COP 19.1K
$3.64E£187
62.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12COP 106.6K
$15.51E£796
113.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12COP 22.9K
$4.54E£233
56.83%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 5,487
$1.43E£73.4
19.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,374
$0.31E£16.14
238.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,324
$0.12E£5.92
500.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,531
$1.21E£62.0
42.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.2K
$3.01E£154
5.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,426
$0.81E£41.68
30.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,215
$0.74E£37.89
77.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33COP 4,279
$0.66E£33.97
101.52%
Eggs
$2.28COP 7,338
$1.44E£73.7
58.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.42COP 14.2K
$3.85E£197
14.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.92COP 19.0K
$4.33E£222
36.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 27.8K
$9.45E£485
-8.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 7,545
$1.43E£73.4
63.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10COP 3,546
$0.54E£27.72
103.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47COP 4,724
$0.42E£21.63
250.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,439
$0.36E£18.54
283.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,774
$0.40E£20.64
192.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,765
$0.41E£20.82
185.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,905
$0.22E£11.22
309.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,708
$0.21E£10.75
300.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 7,490
$1.94E£99.5
20.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.92COP 38.3K
$5.77E£296
106.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COP 3,693
$1.36E£69.7
-15.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42COP 7,791
$2.56E£132
-5.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,702
$0.20E£10.14
320.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 131.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COP 4,541
$0.52E£26.87
171.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,160
$0.46E£23.66
315.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.83COP 25.2K
$2.02E£104
287.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,037
$0.33E£16.93
184.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8KCOP 57.3M
$35.2KE£1.8M
-49.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KCOP 87.1M
$33.2KE£1.7M
-18.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.3COP 267.9K
$11.34E£582
634.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66COP 31.1K
$5.61E£288
72.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.22COP 77.9K
$10.20E£523
137.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.22COP 81.2K
$22.52E£1,155
11.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.33COP 62.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.07COP 13.1K
$3.03E£155
34.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307COP 986.5K
$89.0E£4,567
244.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,981COP 19.2M
$1,816E£93.2K
229.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 192.9K
$27.46E£1,409
118.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.65COP 105.1K
$48.58E£2,492
-32.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 325.2K
$110E£5,649
-8.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 347.6K
$50.0E£2,566
115.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.5M
$187E£9,574
155.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.2M
$101E£5,157
276.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$816COP 2.6M
$313E£16.0K
161.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$707COP 2.3M
$178E£9,106
298.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,190COP 10.3M
$893E£45.8K
257.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446COP 4.7M
$405E£20.8K
257.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mersa Matruh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$622COP 2.0M
$99.2E£5,090
526.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
17
-21.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026
Last update for Mersa Matruh: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $187 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 527% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $16.00 in Mersa Matruh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $128 – 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 119%, 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 $1,527 per month in Medellin and $698 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $16.00 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 50% 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 $465, than in Medellin at $1,018. 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.