Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Oued Zem Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Oued Zem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $790 in Oued Zem, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,321 in Oued Zem, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,851 in Oued Zem, rent included.

Medellin costs about 27% more than Oued Zem, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Oued Zem are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Oued Zem 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$4.73 MAD 44.34

24.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$50.2 MAD 471

-34.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

$6.53 MAD 61.3

13.78%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$2.04 MAD 19.17

-19.12%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,514

$0.63 MAD 5.90

74.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

$0.37 MAD 3.48

110.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$5.62 MAD 52.7

-69.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

$4.06 MAD 38.05

-21.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$0.82 MAD 7.66

34.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$0.47 MAD 4.42

168.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$1.96 MAD 18.42

-29.59%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$1.93 MAD 18.13

12.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$13.18 MAD 124

-65.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$6.90 MAD 64.7

-16.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$11.99 MAD 113

-25.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$1.58 MAD 14.87

46.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$1.44 MAD 13.51

-26.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$0.82 MAD 7.65

85.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$0.86 MAD 8.08

58.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$0.67 MAD 6.29

68.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$0.67 MAD 6.27

74.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

$0.42 MAD 3.96

114.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$0.60 MAD 5.60

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

$4.44 MAD 41.71

-49.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

$7.70 MAD 72.3

57.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

$2.62 MAD 24.60

-54.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

$2.55 MAD 23.94

-2.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

$0.50 MAD 4.72

70.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

$16.19 MAD 152

157.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$0.53 MAD 4.99

167.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

$0.89 MAD 8.32

119.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

$4.50 MAD 42.22

75.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$1.58 MAD 14.79

-37.34%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 56.2M

$37.0K MAD 347.0K

-52.41%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 85.5M

$29.2K MAD 273.8K

-8.16%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 COP 264.9K

$40.97 MAD 384

102.61%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$11.09 MAD 104

-12.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$39.78 MAD 373

-40.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

$24.64 MAD 231

2.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

$23.14 MAD 217

-17.46%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$6.56 MAD 61.6

-39.79%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 1.0M

$160 MAD 1,505

96.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

$6,381 MAD 59.9K

-6.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

$53.1 MAD 498

13.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

$47.44 MAD 445

-32.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

$107 MAD 1,005

-5.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

$98.8 MAD 927

8.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$286 MAD 2,684

66.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$176 MAD 1,655

112.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$514 MAD 4,819

65.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$310 MAD 2,910

131.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

$1,165 MAD 10.9K

180.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

$932 MAD 8,745

54.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$246 MAD 2,311

153.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.81

179.21%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Oued Zem: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $286 in Oued Zem. 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 154% 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 $50.0 in Oued Zem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $208 – 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 Oued Zem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,186 in Oued Zem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Oued Zem, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $50.0 in Oued Zem. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $790 in Oued Zem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Oued Zem, where all-in costs run around $790, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Oued Zem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Oued Zem – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Oued Zem. 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.