Cost of Living Comparison Between Moka and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Moka and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $931 per month in Moka vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Moka vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,242 per month in Moka vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Moka is about 10% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Moka and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Moka 30% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.46 MUR 304
$6.16 COP 20.1K
4.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.21 MUR 2,077
$32.60 COP 106.1K
35.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.74 MUR 317
$7.34 COP 23.9K
-8.17%
Cappuccino
$2.65 MUR 124
$1.72 COP 5,600
54.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 MUR 48.40
$1.05 COP 3,420
-1.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 MUR 28.35
$0.77 COP 2,515
-22.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 MUR 101
$1.69 COP 5,488
27.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 MUR 127
$3.17 COP 10.3K
-14.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 MUR 65.9
$1.05 COP 3,423
33.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.70 MUR 32.66
$1.30 COP 4,236
-46.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 MUR 60.6
$1.40 COP 4,544
-7.86%
Eggs
$2.23 MUR 105
$2.16 COP 7,047
3.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.13 MUR 476
$4.39 COP 14.3K
130.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.17 MUR 290
$5.88 COP 19.1K
4.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.64 MUR 500
$8.64 COP 28.1K
23.15%
Apples (1kg)
$1.98 MUR 92.9
$2.28 COP 7,426
-13.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.96 MUR 92.2
$1.11 COP 3,604
76.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 MUR 67.7
$1.53 COP 4,983
-5.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.73 MUR 128
$1.35 COP 4,410
102.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 MUR 48.05
$1.13 COP 3,674
-9.73%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 MUR 46.74
$1.13 COP 3,692
-12.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.84 MUR 39.59
$0.85 COP 2,753
-1.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 MUR 22.01
$0.91 COP 2,975
-48.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.87 MUR 276
$2.34 COP 7,630
150.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 MUR 479
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-17.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 MUR 83.4
$1.20 COP 3,909
48.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 MUR 78.5
$2.49 COP 8,104
-32.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Moka
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.05 MUR 49.26
$0.84 COP 2,728
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.99 MUR 610
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-67.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 MUR 126
$1.42 COP 4,623
88.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.64 MUR 124
$1.92 COP 6,235
37.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.55 MUR 731
$7.66 COP 24.9K
103.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 MUR 64.9
$0.99 COP 3,223
39.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K MUR 1.7M
$18.0K COP 58.7M
99.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K MUR 1.3M
$26.6K COP 86.7M
6.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$49.81 MUR 2,340
$80.8 COP 263.1K
-38.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.48 MUR 868
$9.95 COP 32.4K
85.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.86 MUR 1,262
$24.18 COP 78.7K
11.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.58 MUR 1,155
$25.08 COP 81.7K
-1.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.99 MUR 281
$3.98 COP 13.0K
50.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$154 MUR 7,218
$305 COP 993.5K
-49.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,002 MUR 188.0K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
-33.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9 MUR 3,517
$58.1 COP 189.2K
28.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.58 MUR 1,718
$32.20 COP 104.8K
13.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.8 MUR 4,406
$101 COP 327.9K
-6.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.0 MUR 2,629
$108 COP 350.8K
-48.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moka
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$524 MUR 24.6K
$477 COP 1.6M
10.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$329 MUR 15.5K
$376 COP 1.2M
-12.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$936 MUR 44.0K
$845 COP 2.7M
10.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$703 MUR 33.1K
$730 COP 2.4M
-3.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$677 MUR 31.8K
$617 COP 2.0M
9.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.25
13.43
-53.46%

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

Last update for Moka: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $524 in Moka versus $477 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 10% 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 $44.00 in Moka versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $216 vs $193 – making Medellin 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 11%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,396 per month in Moka and $1,546 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 $44.00 in Moka and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Moka and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $931 in Moka and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
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 $931, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.

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