Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Rabat Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Rabat

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $874 in Rabat, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,498 in Rabat, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,123 in Rabat, rent included.

Medellin costs about 92% more than Rabat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Rabat is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$4.30 MAD 40.80

86.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

$41.91 MAD 397

14.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

$7.41 MAD 70.3

33.47%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$1.89 MAD 17.95

65.61%

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

$0.63 MAD 5.96

203.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$0.34 MAD 3.26

344.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$5.27 MAD 49.94

-40.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$3.13 MAD 29.70

83.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$0.89 MAD 8.46

61.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$0.63 MAD 5.94

295.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$1.85 MAD 17.54

-4.32%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$1.88 MAD 17.87

57.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

$11.37 MAD 108

-11.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

$6.61 MAD 62.6

53.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

$12.29 MAD 117

16.35%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$1.62 MAD 15.37

155.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

$1.38 MAD 13.11

16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

$0.91 MAD 8.61

147.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

$0.88 MAD 8.31

155.68%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

$0.75 MAD 7.07

172.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

$0.75 MAD 7.12

105.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

$0.39 MAD 3.66

200.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$0.64 MAD 6.03

104.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

$4.24 MAD 40.23

-8.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

$7.77 MAD 73.7

80.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

$2.63 MAD 24.99

-33.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

$2.66 MAD 25.25

7.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

$0.55 MAD 5.24

121.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

$26.39 MAD 250

204.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

$0.76 MAD 7.19

72.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

$0.92 MAD 8.70

138.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

$4.15 MAD 39.37

109.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$1.57 MAD 14.84

-12.74%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

$35.0K MAD 331.5K

-20.37%

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

$32.4K MAD 307.1K

10.48%

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

$177 COP 553.2K

$36.10 MAD 342

391.14%

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

$10.38 MAD 98.5

33.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$33.47 MAD 317

-11.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$30.19 MAD 286

48.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

$27.93 MAD 265

-38.70%

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

$6.18 MAD 58.6

7.61%

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

$813 COP 2.5M

$185 MAD 1,753

339.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

$7,130 MAD 67.6K

28.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

$49.66 MAD 471

80.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

$44.43 MAD 421

32.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

$92.8 MAD 880

48.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

$68.0 MAD 645

50.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$508 MAD 4,818

109.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$284 MAD 2,692

133.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

$1,109 MAD 10.5K

70.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

$673 MAD 6,383

52.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

$2,000 MAD 19.0K

109.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

$1,155 MAD 11.0K

44.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$728 MAD 6,899

-6.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

4.52

142.04%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Rabat: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $508 in Rabat. 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 7% higher in Rabat, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $42.00 in Rabat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $206 – making Rabat 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 Rabat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 92%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,310 in Rabat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rabat, 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $42.00 in Rabat. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $874 in Rabat. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Rabat, where all-in costs run around $874, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Rabat it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rabat – 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 Rabat. 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.