😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $261 in Nouadhibou, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $494 in Nouadhibou, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $727 in Nouadhibou, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 295% more than Nouadhibou, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and Nouadhibou are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Nouadhibou80% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Nouadhibou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$2.52MRU 100
144.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$17.21MRU 686
89.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$5.83MRU 232
25.90%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,600
$2.44MRU 97.3
-29.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,488
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nouadhibou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.27MRU 50.8
-17.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.40MRU 15.89
225.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.11MRU 44.27
26.13%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,047
$2.13MRU 85.0
1.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$2.79MRU 111
110.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$6.26MRU 250
38.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,426
$1.80MRU 71.8
26.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,604
$1.56MRU 62.1
-28.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,983
$1.15MRU 46.06
33.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$0.73MRU 29.24
84.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$0.78MRU 31.22
44.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.70MRU 27.73
61.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.62MRU 24.59
37.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,630
$2.52MRU 100
-7.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nouadhibou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,728
$0.37MRU 14.58
127.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$0.85MRU 34.01
67.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$7.67MRU 306
-0.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.24MRU 49.55
-20.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nouadhibou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nouadhibou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.7K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nouadhibou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.5K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nouadhibou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nouadhibou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$64.2MRU 2,560
642.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$98.4MRU 3,923
282.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$255MRU 10.2K
186.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nouadhibou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Nouadhibou: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $64.2 in Nouadhibou. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $17.00 in Nouadhibou. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $95.0 – making Nouadhibou 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 Nouadhibou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nouadhibou cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 295%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $391 in Nouadhibou. 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 Nouadhibou, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Nouadhibou?
Groceries cost about 103% 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 eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Nouadhibou?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $17.00 in Nouadhibou. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Nouadhibou?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nouadhibou, where all-in costs run around $261, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Nouadhibou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Nouadhibou more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nouadhibou – 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 Nouadhibou. 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.