Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Taza Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Taza

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,589 per month in Medellin vs $561 in Taza, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,364 per month in Medellin vs $910 in Taza, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,139 per month in Medellin vs $1,258 in Taza, rent included.

Medellin costs about 183% more than Taza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Taza is 58% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.01 COP 25.6K

$3.73 MAD 37.28

114.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.55 COP 149.1K

$18.00 MAD 180

158.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 COP 30.2K

$6.13 MAD 61.2

53.83%

Cappuccino

$2.91 COP 9,326

$1.58 MAD 15.75

84.18%

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

$1.75 COP 5,614

$0.55 MAD 5.50

218.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 COP 4,241

$0.37 MAD 3.66

256.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.13 COP 10.0K

$5.33 MAD 53.3

-41.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.55 COP 17.8K

$3.17 MAD 31.68

75.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 COP 4,519

$0.86 MAD 8.57

63.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 COP 7,818

$0.51 MAD 5.06

378.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.63 COP 5,218

$1.90 MAD 18.96

-14.21%

Eggs

$2.82 COP 9,038

$1.90 MAD 18.93

48.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.69 COP 31.1K

$11.27 MAD 113

-14.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.32 COP 29.8K

$6.04 MAD 60.3

54.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.46 COP 43.1K

$12.03 MAD 120

11.89%

Apples (1kg)

$4.00 COP 12.8K

$0.69 MAD 6.94

479.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 COP 4,744

$1.39 MAD 13.86

6.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 COP 6,804

$0.74 MAD 7.43

186.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,216

$0.54 MAD 5.38

316.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 COP 6,124

$0.41 MAD 4.07

365.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 COP 5,188

$0.44 MAD 4.34

268.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 COP 3,677

$0.37 MAD 3.72

210.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 COP 4,043

$0.58 MAD 5.83

117.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.82 COP 12.2K

$4.13 MAD 41.24

-7.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.11 COP 42.0K

$7.65 MAD 76.4

71.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 5,110

$2.40 MAD 24.01

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 COP 7,226

$2.65 MAD 26.42

-14.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,751

$0.38 MAD 3.76

207.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$75.0 COP 240.3K

$13.73 MAD 137

446.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 COP 4,077

$0.70 MAD 6.96

81.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.05 COP 6,566

$0.64 MAD 6.40

220.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.20 COP 26.3K

$2.55 MAD 25.43

221.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 COP 4,067

$1.38 MAD 13.83

-7.97%

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

$26.8K COP 85.8M

$33.5K MAD 334.9K

-20.17%

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

$34.4K COP 110.2M

$31.6K MAD 315.7K

8.83%

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

$162 COP 519.6K

$33.11 MAD 331

389.91%

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

$13.12 COP 42.0K

$9.55 MAD 95.3

37.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.09 COP 90.0K

$33.95 MAD 339

-17.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.33 COP 142.0K

$15.52 MAD 155

185.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.33 COP 52.3K

$21.18 MAD 212

-22.90%

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 COP 19.5K

$4.20 MAD 41.95

45.00%

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

$764 COP 2.4M

$77.2 MAD 771

889.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,904 COP 28.5M

$9,638 MAD 96.2K

-7.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$85.0 COP 272.2K

$20.62 MAD 206

312.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.5 COP 184.1K

$24.61 MAD 246

133.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 COP 422.1K

$95.7 MAD 955

37.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.8 COP 306.7K

$65.7 MAD 656

45.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,028 COP 3.3M

$102 MAD 1,016

910.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$604 COP 1.9M

$62.7 MAD 626

864.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,802 COP 5.8M

$207 MAD 2,069

769.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$993 COP 3.2M

$161 MAD 1,606

517.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,921 COP 12.6M

$1,182 MAD 11.8K

231.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,639 COP 5.2M

$840 MAD 8,386

95.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$626 COP 2.0M

$503 MAD 5,018

24.59%

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: October 6, 2026

Last update for Taza: October 4, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 in Medellin versus $102 in Taza. 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 25% 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 $47.00 in Medellin versus $18.00 in Taza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $190 – making Taza 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 Taza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 183%, 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 $2,384 per month in Medellin and $841 in Taza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Taza, 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 $47.00 in Medellin and $18.00 in Taza. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,589 in Medellin and $561 in Taza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Taza, where all-in costs run around $561, than in Medellin at $1,589. In Taza it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Taza – 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 Taza. 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.