Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Moka Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Moka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $931 in Moka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,586 in Moka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,242 in Moka, rent included.

Medellin costs about 11% more than Moka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Moka are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Moka 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Moka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$6.46 MUR 304
-4.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$44.21 MUR 2,077
-26.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$6.74 MUR 317
8.90%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$2.65 MUR 124
-35.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$1.03 MUR 48.39
1.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.60 MUR 28.35
28.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$2.16 MUR 101
-21.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$2.70 MUR 127
17.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Moka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.40 MUR 65.9
-25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$0.70 MUR 32.65
85.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$1.29 MUR 60.5
8.53%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$2.23 MUR 105
-3.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$10.13 MUR 476
-56.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$6.17 MUR 290
-4.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$10.64 MUR 500
-18.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$1.98 MUR 92.8
15.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$1.96 MUR 92.2
-43.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$1.44 MUR 67.7
6.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$2.73 MUR 128
-50.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.02 MUR 48.04
10.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$0.99 MUR 46.73
14.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.84 MUR 39.58
1.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.47 MUR 22.01
93.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$5.87 MUR 276
-60.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$10.20 MUR 479
21.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.78 MUR 83.4
-32.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$1.67 MUR 78.5
49.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Moka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$1.05 MUR 49.25
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$12.99 MUR 610
212.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$2.68 MUR 126
-47.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$2.64 MUR 124
-27.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$15.55 MUR 731
-50.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.38 MUR 64.9
-28.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$36.0K MUR 1.7M
-49.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$28.3K MUR 1.3M
-6.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Moka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$49.81 MUR 2,340
62.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$18.48 MUR 868
-46.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$26.86 MUR 1,262
-9.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Moka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$24.58 MUR 1,155
2.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$5.99 MUR 281
-33.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Moka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$154 MUR 7,217
98.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$4,002 MUR 188.0K
51.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Moka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$74.9 MUR 3,516
-22.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$36.58 MUR 1,718
-11.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$93.8 MUR 4,405
7.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$56.0 MUR 2,628
92.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Moka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$524 MUR 24.6K
-9.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$329 MUR 15.5K
14.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$936 MUR 44.0K
-9.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$703 MUR 33.0K
3.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Moka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$677 MUR 31.8K
-8.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.25
114.88%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Moka: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $524 in Moka. 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 10% higher in Moka, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $44.00 in Moka. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $216 – making Medellin 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 Moka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moka cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 11%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,396 in Moka. 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 Moka, 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 Moka?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $44.00 in Moka. 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 Moka?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $931 in Moka. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Moka?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Moka, where all-in costs run around $931, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Moka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Moka more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Moka – 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 Moka?
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 Moka. 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.

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