Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Mogadishu and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $596 per month in Mogadishu vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $925 per month in Mogadishu vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,253 per month in Mogadishu vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Mogadishu is about 41% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mogadishu and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Mogadishu 56% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 SOS 1,930

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-43.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.86 SOS 10.1K

$32.86 COP 117.2K

-45.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.41 SOS 2,506

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-37.80%

Cappuccino

$1.48 SOS 841

$1.71 COP 6,105

-13.45%

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

$0.48 SOS 271

$1.10 COP 3,918

-56.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 SOS 189

$0.78 COP 2,776

-57.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.93 SOS 2,233

$1.68 COP 5,987

133.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$14.97 SOS 8,505

$3.07 COP 10.9K

387.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 SOS 822

$1.09 COP 3,899

33.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 SOS 764

$1.26 COP 4,500

7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 SOS 510

$1.38 COP 4,914

-34.78%

Eggs

$1.90 SOS 1,082

$2.19 COP 7,813

-13.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.02 SOS 2,851

$4.40 COP 15.7K

14.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.92 SOS 2,227

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-30.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.95 SOS 2,813

$8.89 COP 31.7K

-44.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.33 SOS 1,891

$2.34 COP 8,334

42.31%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 SOS 560

$1.06 COP 3,771

-6.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.23 SOS 1,836

$1.50 COP 5,365

115.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 SOS 772

$1.38 COP 4,915

-1.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 SOS 701

$1.15 COP 4,104

6.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 SOS 858

$1.16 COP 4,148

30.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 SOS 774

$0.89 COP 3,176

52.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 SOS 295

$0.84 COP 2,992

-38.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.22 SOS 691

$2.28 COP 8,131

-46.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 SOS 1,148

$1.20 COP 4,276

68.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 SOS 273

$0.86 COP 3,051

-44.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.69 SOS 11.2K

$41.40 COP 147.6K

-52.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 SOS 582

$1.47 COP 5,255

-30.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 SOS 347

$1.96 COP 6,997

-68.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.54 SOS 3,714

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-15.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 SOS 571

$0.95 COP 3,403

6.32%

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

$7,566 SOS 4.3M

$18.1K COP 64.6M

-58.27%

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

$6,238 SOS 3.5M

$26.5K COP 94.4M

-76.45%

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

$84.1 SOS 47.8K

$82.3 COP 293.2K

2.25%

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

$5.12 SOS 2,909

$9.50 COP 33.9K

-46.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.3 SOS 33.1K

$24.23 COP 86.4K

140.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.42 SOS 17.8K

$25.89 COP 92.3K

21.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.54 SOS 5,988

$19.00 COP 67.7K

-44.53%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

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

$50.4 SOS 28.7K

$309 COP 1.1M

-83.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$571 SOS 324.3K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-90.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.51 SOS 9,948

$58.7 COP 209.1K

-70.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.48 SOS 13.9K

$32.35 COP 115.3K

-24.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.72 SOS 15.2K

$103 COP 365.7K

-73.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.9 SOS 34.0K

$108 COP 386.5K

-44.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$158 SOS 89.7K

$476 COP 1.7M

-66.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.7 SOS 39.0K

$379 COP 1.4M

-81.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$466 SOS 264.4K

$838 COP 3.0M

-44.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 SOS 103.6K

$724 COP 2.6M

-74.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,232 SOS 1.8M

$2,791 COP 9.9M

15.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,439 SOS 1.4M

$1,211 COP 4.3M

101.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$260 SOS 147.7K

$512 COP 1.8M

-49.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-40.43%

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

Last update for Mogadishu: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $158 in Mogadishu versus $476 in Medellin. 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 97% 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 $18.00 in Mogadishu versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $159 vs $188 – making Mogadishu 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

Mogadishu vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 70%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $894 per month in Mogadishu and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mogadishu, 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 $18.00 in Mogadishu and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $596 in Mogadishu and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mogadishu, where all-in costs run around $596, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Mogadishu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mogadishu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Mogadishu. 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.