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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $938 per month in Moka vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,584 per month in Moka vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,230 per month in Moka vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Moka is about 7% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Moka and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Moka 30% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.55 MUR 309
$5.99 COP 21.4K
9.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.24 MUR 2,090
$32.86 COP 117.4K
34.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.64 MUR 314
$7.09 COP 25.3K
-6.35%
Cappuccino
$2.57 MUR 122
$1.71 COP 6,115
50.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 MUR 44.79
$1.10 COP 3,924
-13.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 MUR 28.60
$0.78 COP 2,781
-21.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 MUR 102
$1.68 COP 5,997
28.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 MUR 130
$3.07 COP 11.0K
-10.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 MUR 67.5
$1.09 COP 3,906
31.19%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 MUR 31.35
$1.26 COP 4,508
-47.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 MUR 60.2
$1.38 COP 4,922
-7.97%
Eggs
$2.27 MUR 107
$2.19 COP 7,827
3.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.72 MUR 459
$4.40 COP 15.7K
120.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.04 MUR 285
$5.63 COP 20.1K
7.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.31 MUR 487
$8.89 COP 31.8K
15.97%
Apples (1kg)
$1.99 MUR 93.9
$2.34 COP 8,349
-14.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 MUR 91.1
$1.06 COP 3,777
82.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 MUR 68.4
$1.50 COP 5,374
-3.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.70 MUR 128
$1.38 COP 4,924
95.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 MUR 48.60
$1.15 COP 4,111
-10.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 MUR 47.11
$1.16 COP 4,155
-13.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 MUR 39.29
$0.89 COP 3,182
-6.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 MUR 22.35
$0.84 COP 2,997
-44.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.97 MUR 282
$2.28 COP 8,145
161.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.21 MUR 388
$10.64 COP 38.0K
-22.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 MUR 84.1
$1.20 COP 4,284
48.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 MUR 78.6
$2.47 COP 8,824
-32.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Moka
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.00 MUR 47.18
$0.86 COP 3,056
16.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.16 MUR 622
$41.40 COP 147.9K
-68.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.68 MUR 127
$1.47 COP 5,264
82.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.72 MUR 129
$1.96 COP 7,009
38.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.33 MUR 724
$7.74 COP 27.6K
98.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 MUR 65.3
$0.95 COP 3,409
45.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K MUR 1.7M
$18.1K COP 64.7M
94.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K MUR 1.4M
$26.5K COP 94.6M
9.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.75 MUR 2,303
$82.3 COP 293.7K
-40.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.01 MUR 851
$9.50 COP 33.9K
89.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.82 MUR 1,267
$24.23 COP 86.5K
10.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.30 MUR 1,148
$25.89 COP 92.4K
-6.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00 COP 67.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 MUR 293
$3.93 COP 14.0K
57.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$153 MUR 7,243
$309 COP 1.1M
-50.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,980 MUR 188.0K
$5,965 COP 21.3M
-33.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.2 MUR 3,647
$58.7 COP 209.5K
31.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.63 MUR 1,731
$32.35 COP 115.5K
13.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.9 MUR 4,390
$103 COP 366.4K
-9.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.9 MUR 2,643
$108 COP 387.2K
-48.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moka
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$516 MUR 24.4K
$476 COP 1.7M
8.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$327 MUR 15.5K
$379 COP 1.4M
-13.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$948 MUR 44.8K
$838 COP 3.0M
13.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$705 MUR 33.3K
$724 COP 2.6M
-2.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,791 COP 10.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,211 COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$321 MUR 15.2K
$512 COP 1.8M
-37.24%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $516 in Moka 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 59% 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 $44.00 in Moka versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $209 vs $188 – 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 8%, 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 $1,406 per month in Moka and $1,519 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 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $938 in Moka and $1,013 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 Moka or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Moka, where all-in costs run around $938, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.

Moka vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities