Cost of Living Comparison Between Moka and Medellin Cost 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
$6.31 MUR 294
$8.04 COP 24.8K
-21.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.95 MUR 1,304
$48.29 COP 149.1K
-42.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.77 MUR 316
$9.42 COP 29.1K
-28.13%
Cappuccino
$4.25 MUR 198
$2.94 COP 9,070
44.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 MUR 49.35
$1.86 COP 5,754
-43.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 MUR 15.41
$1.46 COP 4,494
-77.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 MUR 126
$3.21 COP 9,915
-15.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 MUR 154
$5.71 COP 17.6K
-42.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 MUR 68.1
$1.44 COP 4,443
1.39%
White Bread (500g)
$0.93 MUR 43.28
$2.40 COP 7,413
-61.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 MUR 77.5
$1.70 COP 5,245
-2.35%
Eggs
$3.14 MUR 147
$2.89 COP 8,925
8.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$10.06 COP 31.1K
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.60 MUR 494
$9.97 COP 30.8K
6.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.06 MUR 703
$14.20 COP 43.9K
6.06%
Apples (1kg)
$3.04 MUR 142
$3.98 COP 12.3K
-23.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 MUR 78.4
$1.58 COP 4,894
6.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.18 MUR 195
$2.15 COP 6,646
94.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.18 MUR 195
$2.30 COP 7,101
81.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 MUR 48.57
$2.00 COP 6,189
-48.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 MUR 48.60
$1.51 COP 4,661
-31.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 MUR 46.40
$1.20 COP 3,713
-17.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 MUR 26.57
$1.28 COP 3,959
-55.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.37 MUR 297
$3.84 COP 11.8K
65.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.16 MUR 474
$14.01 COP 43.3K
-27.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 MUR 103
$1.71 COP 5,273
28.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 MUR 107
$2.74 COP 8,468
-16.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Moka
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.25 COP 3,847
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$77.9 COP 240.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.24 MUR 151
$1.31 COP 4,030
147.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.17 COP 6,702
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.29 COP 25.6K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 MUR 75.2
$1.36 COP 4,186
18.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K MUR 1.2M
$27.5K COP 84.8M
-5.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.4K MUR 2.0M
$36.5K COP 112.8M
16.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$169 COP 521.0K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.31 MUR 201
$13.57 COP 41.9K
-68.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.87 MUR 1,114
$28.32 COP 87.5K
-15.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.51 MUR 1,004
$45.71 COP 141.1K
-52.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22 COP 53.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.87 MUR 274
$6.65 COP 20.5K
-11.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$127 MUR 5,922
$803 COP 2.5M
-84.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$9,190 COP 28.4M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.3 MUR 3,933
$87.4 COP 269.7K
-3.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.08 MUR 1,964
$59.4 COP 183.3K
-29.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.9 MUR 4,426
$139 COP 428.9K
-31.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.3 MUR 3,653
$102 COP 315.1K
-23.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Moka
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$519 MUR 24.2K
$1,071 COP 3.3M
-51.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$315 MUR 14.7K
$653 COP 2.0M
-51.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 MUR 41.6K
$1,925 COP 5.9M
-53.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$708 MUR 33.0K
$1,048 COP 3.2M
-32.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,123 COP 12.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,697 COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Moka
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$697 MUR 32.5K
$655 COP 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.

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