😐A single person spends $1,432 per month in Motril vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Motril vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,746 per month in Motril vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Motril costs about 39% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Motril sits 7% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Motril
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.95€11.91
$5.92COP 21.5K
135.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13€39.39
$32.75COP 119.1K
40.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.82€5.82
$7.20COP 26.2K
-5.28%
Cappuccino
$2.12€1.81
$1.70COP 6,186
24.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.76
$1.10COP 3,996
87.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13€0.97
$0.72COP 2,625
56.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.37€2.03
$1.67COP 6,067
41.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55€3.03
$3.10COP 11.3K
14.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Motril
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.97
$1.06COP 3,837
7.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57€1.34
$1.25COP 4,531
25.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$1.39COP 5,060
27.34%
Eggs
$3.42€2.92
$2.26COP 8,229
51.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.21€12.14
$4.33COP 15.8K
228.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.66€3.98
$5.84COP 21.2K
-20.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.14€15.49
$8.83COP 32.1K
105.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34€2.00
$2.24COP 8,159
4.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08€1.77
$1.08COP 3,911
92.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.81€1.55
$1.53COP 5,563
18.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.74€2.34
$1.37COP 4,987
100.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.51
$1.13COP 4,109
56.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.81
$1.12COP 4,067
89.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.24
$0.85COP 3,080
70.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57€0.49
$0.91COP 3,305
-37.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55€5.59
$2.33COP 8,477
181.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.19€5.29
$11.13COP 40.5K
-44.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.16
$1.19COP 4,342
14.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36€2.02
$2.37COP 8,617
-0.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Motril
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.66€1.42
$0.79COP 2,859
110.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.74€28.82
$41.13COP 149.6K
-17.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.12€1.81
$1.44COP 5,223
47.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02€0.87
$1.91COP 6,952
-46.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.12€19.75
$8.02COP 29.2K
188.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81€1.55
$0.94COP 3,410
92.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K€23.0K
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
50.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4K€26.8K
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
17.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Motril
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3€69.4
$84.0COP 305.4K
-3.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.30€13.92
$9.60COP 34.9K
69.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.93€19.58
$24.16COP 87.9K
-5.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Motril
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.81€39.97
$25.88COP 94.1K
80.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.84€12.67
$19.04COP 69.3K
-22.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.77€5.79
$3.92COP 14.2K
72.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Motril
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$250€214
$306COP 1.1M
-18.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,608€5,643
$5,919COP 21.5M
11.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Motril
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.09€29.11
$57.9COP 210.6K
-41.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.37€24.23
$31.82COP 115.7K
-10.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.4€68.7
$99.9COP 363.3K
-19.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$45.47€38.83
$107COP 389.7K
-57.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Motril
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$864€738
$487COP 1.8M
77.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$708€604
$368COP 1.3M
92.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,311€1,120
$826COP 3.0M
58.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,019€870
$716COP 2.6M
42.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,457€2,952
$2,925COP 10.6M
18.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,307€1,970
$1,407COP 5.1M
64.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Motril
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,760€1,503
$546COP 2.0M
222.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3
13.43
-77.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Motril: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $864 in Motril versus $487 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 223% higher in Motril, 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 $46.00 in Motril versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $260 vs $190 – 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
Motril vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Motril?
Yes – Motril is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,147 per month in Motril and $1,550 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 Medellin, 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 Motril or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Motril 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 Motril vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,432 in Motril and $1,034 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 Motril or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Motril at $1,432. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Motril it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Motril or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Motril 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Motril makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.