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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $901 in Rabat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,611 in Rabat, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,321 in Rabat, rent included.

Medellin costs about 15% more than Rabat, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Rabat are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Rabat 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$4.63 MAD 42.81

27.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$49.57 MAD 458

-33.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$6.53 MAD 60.4

10.26%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$2.07 MAD 19.19

-17.87%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.62 MAD 5.71

77.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.40 MAD 3.70

80.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$5.37 MAD 49.63

-68.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$4.12 MAD 38.14

-24.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$0.83 MAD 7.69

27.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.51 MAD 4.69

145.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$1.97 MAD 18.25

-29.44%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$1.91 MAD 17.68

18.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$13.19 MAD 122

-67.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$6.79 MAD 62.8

-13.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$12.04 MAD 111

-26.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$1.61 MAD 14.87

39.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.44 MAD 13.36

-25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$0.78 MAD 7.17

96.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$0.87 MAD 8.06

57.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$0.71 MAD 6.60

59.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$0.66 MAD 6.11

69.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.42 MAD 3.90

102.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.64 MAD 5.92

42.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$4.21 MAD 38.97

-44.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$7.85 MAD 72.6

41.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$2.74 MAD 25.31

-56.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$2.53 MAD 23.37

-6.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$0.52 MAD 4.85

51.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$27.14 MAD 251

51.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$0.57 MAD 5.25

152.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$0.88 MAD 8.13

117.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$4.33 MAD 40.07

85.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.59 MAD 14.74

-40.88%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$36.9K MAD 341.4K

-51.44%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$29.7K MAD 275.2K

-9.94%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$41.27 MAD 382

103.44%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$11.06 MAD 102

-13.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$39.37 MAD 364

-38.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$30.55 MAD 283

-15.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$28.95 MAD 268

-34.23%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$6.39 MAD 59.1

-38.65%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$155 MAD 1,437

97.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$6,445 MAD 59.6K

-8.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$53.0 MAD 490

9.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$47.82 MAD 442

-33.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$109 MAD 1,007

-8.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$96.8 MAD 895

10.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$460 MAD 4,252

5.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$266 MAD 2,464

38.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$1,119 MAD 10.4K

-26.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$731 MAD 6,759

-1.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$1,946 MAD 18.0K

50.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$1,097 MAD 10.1K

28.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$747 MAD 6,912

-27.00%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Rabat: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $460 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 37% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $50.0 in Rabat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $210 – 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 Rabat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 15%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,351 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $50.0 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 $1,034 in Medellin and $901 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 $901, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.