Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Rabat

For one person, living is cheaper in Rabat: $921 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $8,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Rabat, Morocco
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Rabat
🇲🇦 Morocco
$921
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Rabat

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 Rabat actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $921 in Rabat, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Rabat $921

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $1,498 in Rabat, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Rabat $1,498

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $2,074 in Rabat, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Rabat $2,074

Medellin costs about 78% more than Rabat, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Rabat is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Rabat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$3.99 MAD 39.21
102.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.7K
$41.46 MAD 408
13.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.6K
$6.96 MAD 68.4
36.49%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,722
$1.94 MAD 19.04
55.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,801
$0.53 MAD 5.25
239.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,554
$0.37 MAD 3.60
281.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.2K
$5.19 MAD 51.0
-38.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.5K
$3.14 MAD 30.87
83.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Rabat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,869
$0.90 MAD 8.84
67.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,667
$0.60 MAD 5.93
296.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,712
$1.92 MAD 18.85
-7.81%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,320
$1.86 MAD 18.24
55.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$11.16 MAD 110
-8.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.8K
$6.71 MAD 65.9
47.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.1K
$12.08 MAD 119
15.81%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$1.55 MAD 15.26
156.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,005
$1.43 MAD 14.07
8.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,039
$0.81 MAD 7.96
169.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,041
$0.82 MAD 8.11
165.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,328
$0.72 MAD 7.06
172.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,125
$0.75 MAD 7.36
112.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,694
$0.37 MAD 3.61
210.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,009
$0.63 MAD 6.22
96.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
$4.06 MAD 39.93
-2.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.1K
$7.33 MAD 72.1
86.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,352
$2.56 MAD 25.20
-35.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,281
$2.68 MAD 26.36
-15.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Rabat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,766
$0.55 MAD 5.41
112.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.5K
$25.62 MAD 252
201.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,089
$0.73 MAD 7.16
73.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,603
$0.77 MAD 7.59
166.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
$4.13 MAD 40.63
107.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,343
$1.52 MAD 14.96
-11.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 109.8M
$30.2K MAD 296.4K
12.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.8M
$32.1K MAD 315.4K
8.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Rabat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.0K
$35.47 MAD 349
378.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.7K
$10.21 MAD 100
32.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.5K
$33.51 MAD 329
-16.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Rabat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 140.9K
$27.87 MAD 274
56.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.4K
$24.11 MAD 237
-28.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
$5.94 MAD 58.4
16.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Rabat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$180 MAD 1,773
341.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
$9,261 MAD 91.0K
-1.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Rabat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.2K
$46.83 MAD 460
80.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 186.9K
$40.60 MAD 399
42.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.2K
$91.6 MAD 900
47.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 315.6K
$66.0 MAD 648
48.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Rabat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$572 MAD 5,618
111.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$345 MAD 3,394
85.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$987 MAD 9,700
105.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$687 MAD 6,756
47.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.4M
$2,126 MAD 20.9K
96.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
$1,214 MAD 11.9K
57.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Rabat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$721 MAD 7,092
-8.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
4.55
140.44%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Rabat: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Rabat
$345 46.2% $296
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Rabat
$203 31.8% $94
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Rabat
$79 62.5% $132
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Rabat
$112 34% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Rabat
$110 34.8% $59
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Rabat
$32 65.4% $61
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Rabat
$40 30.9% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $572 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 10% 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 $47 in Medellin versus $41 in Rabat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $203 – making Rabat the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇲🇦 Rabat
🕒 Local time
18:14 6:14 PM
23:14 11:14 PM
5 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
573,895 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MAD, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 3,224 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,600 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 9.83 MAD (1 MAD = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.98 MAD (100 MAD = 9.11 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Rabat 7,670 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Rabat

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 Rabat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rabat cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 78%, 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 $1,382 in Rabat. 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 Rabat, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $572 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Rabat?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $41 in Rabat. 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 Rabat?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $921 in Rabat. That makes Rabat about 44% cheaper.
Is $800 enough to cover costs in Medellin or in Rabat?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,639 in Medellin and $921 in Rabat. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Medellin or Rabat more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Rabat is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 44% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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