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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $917 in Rabat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,616 in Rabat, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,315 in Rabat, rent included.

Medellin costs about 9% more than Rabat, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Rabat are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Rabat 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$4.78 MAD 44.55

23.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$48.90 MAD 456

-32.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$6.51 MAD 60.7

14.13%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.04 MAD 18.99

-19.12%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.62 MAD 5.81

77.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.37 MAD 3.49

110.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$5.38 MAD 50.2

-68.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$4.20 MAD 39.12

-24.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$0.83 MAD 7.73

32.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.48 MAD 4.46

162.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.97 MAD 18.34

-29.95%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.94 MAD 18.11

12.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$12.88 MAD 120

-65.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$7.00 MAD 65.3

-17.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$11.74 MAD 109

-23.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.59 MAD 14.79

45.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.38 MAD 12.87

-23.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$0.81 MAD 7.56

87.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$0.82 MAD 7.61

65.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.69 MAD 6.40

63.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.71 MAD 6.62

64.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.43 MAD 4.00

109.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.59 MAD 5.52

52.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$4.38 MAD 40.85

-49.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$8.00 MAD 74.6

51.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.70 MAD 25.19

-55.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.43 MAD 22.62

2.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.54 MAD 4.99

57.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$27.81 MAD 259

49.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.56 MAD 5.24

153.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.87 MAD 8.15

124.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$4.32 MAD 40.26

82.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.54 MAD 14.37

-35.71%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$37.4K MAD 348.7K

-52.93%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$29.6K MAD 276.4K

-9.61%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$41.72 MAD 389

98.97%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$11.17 MAD 104

-13.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$40.95 MAD 382

-42.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$29.78 MAD 278

-15.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$28.35 MAD 264

-32.63%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$6.55 MAD 61.0

-39.69%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$157 MAD 1,468

100.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$6,433 MAD 60.0K

-7.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$52.6 MAD 490

14.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$47.84 MAD 446

-33.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$107 MAD 996

-4.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$99.9 MAD 931

7.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$457 MAD 4,259

3.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$268 MAD 2,500

39.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$1,122 MAD 10.5K

-24.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$721 MAD 6,723

-0.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$2,046 MAD 19.1K

59.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,204 MAD 11.2K

19.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$725 MAD 6,763

-13.90%

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 Rabat: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $457 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 16% 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 $49.00 in Rabat. 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 Rabat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 9%, 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 $1,376 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 $49.00 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $917 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 $917, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.