Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nouakchott

For one person, living is cheaper in Nouakchott: $807 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $10,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Nouakchott, Mauritania
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Nouakchott
🇲🇷 Mauritania
$807
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Nouakchott

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Nouakchott actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $807 in Nouakchott, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Nouakchott $807

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $1,326 in Nouakchott, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Nouakchott $1,326

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $1,845 in Nouakchott, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Nouakchott $1,845

Medellin costs about 103% more than Nouakchott, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Nouakchott is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Nouakchott
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.6K
$2.54 MRU 102
218.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.7K
$24.12 MRU 968
95.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.0K
$5.97 MRU 240
59.13%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.71 MRU 68.7
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.69 MRU 67.8
-
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,532
$2.32 MRU 93.1
29.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,688
$1.79 MRU 71.8
0.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,465
$2.12 MRU 85.3
-33.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.2K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nouakchott
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,774
$1.61 MRU 64.5
-6.21%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,517
$0.28 MRU 11.36
750.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,601
$1.38 MRU 55.3
28.26%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,138
$2.25 MRU 90.4
28.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.2K
$6.01 MRU 241
69.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.2K
$5.47 MRU 220
80.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.2K
$7.31 MRU 293
91.38%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.6K
$3.24 MRU 130
22.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,907
$1.82 MRU 73.2
-14.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,901
$1.55 MRU 62.3
40.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,904
$1.16 MRU 46.58
87.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,205
$0.93 MRU 37.54
110.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,025
$0.88 MRU 35.41
80.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,622
$0.73 MRU 29.19
57.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,930
$0.61 MRU 24.49
103.28%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$10.25 MRU 411
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.62 MRU 105
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.71 MRU 68.5
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$2.45 MRU 98.3
61.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.3K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,247
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,139
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nouakchott
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,692
$0.47 MRU 18.92
148.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 244.6K
$21.95 MRU 881
252.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,009
$0.90 MRU 36.18
41.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,474
$0.38 MRU 15.38
439.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.0K
$3.54 MRU 142
141.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,258
$1.41 MRU 56.8
-4.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.7M
$7,363 MRU 295.6K
362.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.6M
$8,951 MRU 359.4K
287.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nouakchott
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 536.4K
$127 MRU 5,103
33.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.8K
$21.88 MRU 879
-38.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.7K
$59.2 MRU 2,375
-52.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nouakchott
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 138.2K
$85.1 MRU 3,415
-48.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.3K
$249 MRU 10.0K
-93.10%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.9K
$4.08 MRU 164
69.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nouakchott
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$449 MRU 18.0K
77.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.8M
$7,617 MRU 305.8K
19.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nouakchott
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 267.8K
$15.34 MRU 616
452.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 183.2K
$22.81 MRU 916
154.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 426.7K
$67.8 MRU 2,721
99.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 309.4K
$46.43 MRU 1,864
110.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nouakchott
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$288 MRU 11.6K
319.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$174 MRU 6,999
268.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$728 MRU 29.2K
178.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$317 MRU 12.7K
219.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nouakchott
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$641 MRU 25.8K
2.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
20
-45.30%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Nouakchott: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Nouakchott
$174 72.8% $467
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Nouakchott
$155 47.9% $142
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Nouakchott
$208 1.5% $3.1
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Nouakchott
$82 51.8% $88
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Nouakchott
$69 59.4% $100
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Nouakchott
$27 71.5% $67
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Nouakchott
$93 62.1% $36

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $288 in Nouakchott. 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 $47 in Medellin versus $24 in Nouakchott. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $155 – making Nouakchott the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇲🇷 Nouakchott
🕒 Local time
12:12 12:12 PM
17:12 5:12 PM
5 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
958,399 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MRU, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3,162 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,528 COP (10,000 COP = 2.83 EUR).

Mauritanian Ouguiya exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 40.15 MRU (100 MRU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 44.81 MRU (100 MRU = 2.23 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Nouakchott 6,590 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Nouakchott

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Nouakchott: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nouakchott cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 103%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $1,211 in Nouakchott. 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 Nouakchott, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $288 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Nouakchott?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $24 in Nouakchott. 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 Nouakchott?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $807 in Nouakchott. That makes Nouakchott about 51% cheaper.
Is $800 enough to cover costs in Medellin or in Nouakchott?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,639 in Medellin and $807 in Nouakchott. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Medellin or Nouakchott more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nouakchott – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Nouakchott is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 51% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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