πA single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,432 in Motril, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $2,089 in Motril, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,746 in Motril, rent included.
πMedellin is about 28% cheaper than Motril, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πMedellin sits 23% below the global median, while Motril is 7% above β they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Motril
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.5K
$13.95β¬11.91
-57.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 119.1K
$46.13β¬39.39
-29.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.2K
$6.82β¬5.82
5.57%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,186
$2.12β¬1.81
-19.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,996
$2.06β¬1.76
-46.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,625
$1.13β¬0.97
-36.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,067
$2.37β¬2.03
-29.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.3K
$3.55β¬3.03
-12.68%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Motril
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,837
$1.14β¬0.97
-7.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,531
$1.57β¬1.34
-20.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,060
$1.77β¬1.52
-21.47%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,229
$3.42β¬2.92
-33.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.8K
$14.21β¬12.14
-69.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.2K
$4.66β¬3.98
25.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 32.1K
$18.14β¬15.49
-51.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,159
$2.34β¬2.00
-4.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,911
$2.08β¬1.77
-48.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,563
$1.81β¬1.55
-15.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,987
$2.74β¬2.34
-50.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,109
$1.77β¬1.51
-36.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,067
$2.12β¬1.81
-47.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,080
$1.45β¬1.24
-41.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,305
$0.57β¬0.49
59.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,477
$6.55β¬5.59
-64.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.5K
$6.19β¬5.29
79.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,342
$1.36β¬1.16
-12.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,617
$2.36β¬2.02
0.42%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Motril
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,859
$1.66β¬1.42
-52.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 149.6K
$33.74β¬28.82
21.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,223
$2.12β¬1.81
-32.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,952
$1.02β¬0.87
87.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 29.2K
$23.12β¬19.75
-65.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,410
$1.81β¬1.55
-48.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 65.2M
$27.0Kβ¬23.0K
-33.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 97.4M
$31.4Kβ¬26.8K
-14.63%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Motril
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 305.4K
$81.3β¬69.4
3.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.9K
$16.30β¬13.92
-41.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.9K
$22.93β¬19.58
5.36%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Motril
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 94.1K
$46.81β¬39.97
-44.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 69.3K
$14.84β¬12.67
28.30%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.2K
$6.77β¬5.79
-42.10%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Motril
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$250β¬214
22.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.5M
$6,608β¬5,643
-10.43%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Motril
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 210.6K
$34.09β¬29.11
69.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 115.7K
$28.37β¬24.23
12.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 363.3K
$80.4β¬68.7
24.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 389.7K
$45.47β¬38.83
135.63%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Motril
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$864β¬738
-43.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$708β¬604
-47.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$1,311β¬1,120
-37.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$1,019β¬870
-29.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
$3,457β¬2,952
-15.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
$2,307β¬1,970
-39.02%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Motril
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
$1,760β¬1,503
-69.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
3
347.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Motril: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $864 in Motril. 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 223% higher in Motril, 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 $46.00 in Motril. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $260 β 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 Motril: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Motril cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Motril is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $2,147 in Motril. 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 Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Motril?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $1,432 in Motril. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Motril?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Motril at $1,432. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Motril it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Motril more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin β 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 Motril?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Motril makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.