Cost of Living Comparison Between Moka and MedellinCost of Living Comparison Between Moka and Medellin
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $922 per month in Moka vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,530 per month in Moka vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,137 per month in Moka vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Moka is about 44% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Moka sits 33% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.31MUR 294
$8.04COP 24.8K
-21.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.95MUR 1,304
$48.29COP 149.1K
-42.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.77MUR 316
$9.42COP 29.1K
-28.13%
Cappuccino
$4.25MUR 198
$2.94COP 9,070
44.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06MUR 49.35
$1.86COP 5,754
-43.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33MUR 15.41
$1.46COP 4,494
-77.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70MUR 126
$3.21COP 9,915
-15.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29MUR 154
$5.71COP 17.6K
-42.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46MUR 68.1
$1.44COP 4,443
1.39%
White Bread(500g)
$0.93MUR 43.28
$2.40COP 7,413
-61.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66MUR 77.5
$1.70COP 5,245
-2.35%
Eggs
$3.14MUR 147
$2.89COP 8,925
8.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$10.06COP 31.1K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.60MUR 494
$9.97COP 30.8K
6.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.06MUR 703
$14.20COP 43.9K
6.06%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04MUR 142
$3.98COP 12.3K
-23.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68MUR 78.4
$1.58COP 4,894
6.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.18MUR 195
$2.15COP 6,646
94.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.18MUR 195
$2.30COP 7,101
81.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04MUR 48.57
$2.00COP 6,189
-48.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04MUR 48.60
$1.51COP 4,661
-31.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99MUR 46.40
$1.20COP 3,713
-17.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MUR 26.57
$1.28COP 3,959
-55.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.37MUR 297
$3.84COP 11.8K
65.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.16MUR 474
$14.01COP 43.3K
-27.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20MUR 103
$1.71COP 5,273
28.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29MUR 107
$2.74COP 8,468
-16.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Moka
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.25COP 3,847
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.9COP 240.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.24MUR 151
$1.31COP 4,030
147.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.17COP 6,702
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.29COP 25.6K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MUR 75.2
$1.36COP 4,186
18.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8KMUR 1.2M
$27.5KCOP 84.8M
-5.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.4KMUR 2.0M
$36.5KCOP 112.8M
16.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$169COP 521.0K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.31MUR 201
$13.57COP 41.9K
-68.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.87MUR 1,114
$28.32COP 87.5K
-15.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.51MUR 1,004
$45.71COP 141.1K
-52.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22COP 53.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.87MUR 274
$6.65COP 20.5K
-11.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$127MUR 5,922
$803COP 2.5M
-84.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$9,190COP 28.4M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.3MUR 3,933
$87.4COP 269.7K
-3.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.08MUR 1,964
$59.4COP 183.3K
-29.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.9MUR 4,426
$139COP 428.9K
-31.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.3MUR 3,653
$102COP 315.1K
-23.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moka
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$519MUR 24.2K
$1,071COP 3.3M
-51.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$315MUR 14.7K
$653COP 2.0M
-51.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$891MUR 41.6K
$1,925COP 5.9M
-53.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$708MUR 33.0K
$1,048COP 3.2M
-32.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,123COP 12.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$697MUR 32.5K
$655COP 2.0M
6.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
10.94
-45.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Moka: September 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $519 in Moka versus $1,071 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 6% higher in Moka, 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 $28.00 in Moka versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $256 vs $300 – making Moka 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
Moka vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Moka?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 78%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,384 per month in Moka and $2,462 in Medellin. 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 Moka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Moka or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Moka and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Moka and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 17% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Moka or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Moka, where all-in costs run around $922, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Moka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Moka or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Moka – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Moka or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Moka. 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.