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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $621 per month in Mogadishu vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $948 per month in Mogadishu vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,274 per month in Mogadishu vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Mogadishu is about 64% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mogadishu sits 55% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.94 SOS 1,671

$8.03 COP 25.1K

-63.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.31 SOS 19.5K

$48.26 COP 150.8K

-28.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.41 SOS 2,504

$9.77 COP 30.5K

-54.86%

Cappuccino

$2.02 SOS 1,148

$2.91 COP 9,095

-30.58%

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

$1.19 SOS 678

$1.94 COP 6,074

-38.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 SOS 285

$1.52 COP 4,754

-67.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.09 COP 9,663

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 COP 17.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 SOS 746

$1.36 COP 4,262

-3.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 SOS 894

$2.39 COP 7,460

-34.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.76 SOS 431

$1.70 COP 5,314

-55.29%

Eggs

$1.94 SOS 1,103

$2.87 COP 8,967

-32.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.94 SOS 2,805

$9.94 COP 31.1K

-50.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.93 SOS 2,233

$10.78 COP 33.7K

-63.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.54 SOS 2,576

$14.73 COP 46.0K

-69.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 SOS 2,188

$4.09 COP 12.8K

-5.87%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 SOS 561

$1.57 COP 4,911

-36.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.08 SOS 1,748

$2.13 COP 6,642

44.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 SOS 712

$2.21 COP 6,917

-43.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 SOS 828

$2.05 COP 6,396

-28.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 SOS 1,009

$1.50 COP 4,700

18.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 SOS 877

$1.19 COP 3,718

29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 SOS 287

$1.16 COP 3,619

-56.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.44 COP 45.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 SOS 1,119

$1.58 COP 4,948

24.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 COP 8,836

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 SOS 274

$1.17 COP 3,650

-58.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 242.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 SOS 555

$1.28 COP 4,014

-23.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 SOS 305

$2.09 COP 6,537

-74.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 SOS 1,667

$8.62 COP 26.9K

-66.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 SOS 522

$1.30 COP 4,056

-29.23%

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

$27.7K COP 86.4M

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

$6,464 SOS 3.7M

$35.5K COP 110.9M

-81.80%

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

$157 SOS 89.1K

$176 COP 550.1K

-10.93%

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

$5.02 SOS 2,849

$13.37 COP 41.8K

-62.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 SOS 37.7K

$29.89 COP 93.4K

121.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.89 SOS 18.1K

$44.76 COP 139.8K

-28.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.3K

Cinema Ticket

$6.20 COP 19.4K

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

$78.6 SOS 44.7K

$793 COP 2.5M

-90.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$751 SOS 426.6K

$9,019 COP 28.2M

-91.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.26 SOS 8,102

$85.6 COP 267.5K

-83.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.25 SOS 8,096

$58.5 COP 182.7K

-75.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$25.29 SOS 14.4K

$136 COP 425.9K

-81.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.84 SOS 18.7K

$103 COP 322.2K

-68.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$193 SOS 109.6K

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-81.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$78.9 SOS 44.8K

$680 COP 2.1M

-88.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 SOS 274.7K

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-75.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 SOS 107.4K

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-83.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,230 SOS 1.8M

$4,111 COP 12.8M

-21.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,437 SOS 1.4M

$1,701 COP 5.3M

43.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 SOS 156.3K

$665 COP 2.1M

-58.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

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

Last update for Mogadishu: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $193 in Mogadishu versus $1,060 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 142% 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 $34.00 in Mogadishu versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $162 vs $303 – 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 176%, 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 $932 per month in Mogadishu and $2,574 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 $34.00 in Mogadishu and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 88% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mogadishu, where all-in costs run around $621, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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.