Cost of Living Comparison Between Oued Zem and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Oued Zem and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $790 per month in Oued Zem vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,321 per month in Oued Zem vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,851 per month in Oued Zem vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Oued Zem is about 21% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Oued Zem and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Oued Zem 41% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.73 MAD 44.34

$5.91 COP 18.9K

-19.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.2 MAD 471

$32.96 COP 105.2K

52.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.53 MAD 61.3

$7.43 COP 23.7K

-12.11%

Cappuccino

$2.04 MAD 19.17

$1.65 COP 5,276

23.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 MAD 5.90

$1.10 COP 3,514

-42.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MAD 3.48

$0.78 COP 2,491

-52.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.62 MAD 52.7

$1.72 COP 5,484

226.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 MAD 38.05

$3.18 COP 10.1K

27.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 MAD 7.66

$1.10 COP 3,521

-25.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 MAD 4.42

$1.26 COP 4,015

-62.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 MAD 18.42

$1.38 COP 4,407

42.03%

Eggs

$1.93 MAD 18.13

$2.18 COP 6,950

-11.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.18 MAD 124

$4.49 COP 14.3K

193.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.90 MAD 64.7

$5.79 COP 18.5K

19.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.99 MAD 113

$8.97 COP 28.6K

33.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.58 MAD 14.87

$2.32 COP 7,405

-31.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MAD 13.51

$1.06 COP 3,397

35.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 MAD 7.65

$1.52 COP 4,838

-46.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.86 MAD 8.08

$1.36 COP 4,327

-36.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 MAD 6.29

$1.13 COP 3,599

-40.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 MAD 6.27

$1.17 COP 3,738

-42.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 MAD 3.96

$0.90 COP 2,876

-53.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 MAD 5.60

$0.90 COP 2,861

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 MAD 41.71

$2.23 COP 7,128

99.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.70 MAD 72.3

$12.12 COP 38.7K

-36.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 MAD 24.60

$1.19 COP 3,793

120.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 MAD 23.94

$2.48 COP 7,920

2.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MAD 4.72

$0.85 COP 2,723

-41.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.19 MAD 152

$41.62 COP 132.8K

-61.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.53 MAD 4.99

$1.42 COP 4,518

-62.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 MAD 8.32

$1.95 COP 6,223

-54.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.50 MAD 42.22

$7.89 COP 25.2K

-42.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 MAD 14.79

$0.99 COP 3,160

59.60%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.0K MAD 347.0K

$17.6K COP 56.2M

110.11%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.2K MAD 273.8K

$26.8K COP 85.5M

8.88%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$40.97 MAD 384

$83.0 COP 264.9K

-50.64%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.09 MAD 104

$9.70 COP 30.9K

14.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.78 MAD 373

$23.52 COP 75.0K

69.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.64 MAD 231

$25.26 COP 80.6K

-2.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.14 MAD 217

$19.10 COP 60.9K

21.15%

Cinema Ticket

$6.56 MAD 61.6

$3.95 COP 12.6K

66.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$160 MAD 1,505

$316 COP 1.0M

-49.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,381 MAD 59.9K

$5,975 COP 19.1M

6.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 MAD 498

$60.0 COP 191.4K

-11.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.44 MAD 445

$31.82 COP 101.5K

49.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 MAD 1,005

$102 COP 324.4K

5.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.8 MAD 927

$107 COP 342.8K

-8.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$286 MAD 2,684

$475 COP 1.5M

-39.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 MAD 1,655

$374 COP 1.2M

-52.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 MAD 4,819

$849 COP 2.7M

-39.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$310 MAD 2,910

$719 COP 2.3M

-56.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,165 MAD 10.9K

$3,265 COP 10.4M

-64.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$932 MAD 8,745

$1,441 COP 4.6M

-35.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$246 MAD 2,311

$624 COP 2.0M

-60.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.81

13.43

-64.18%

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

Last update for Oued Zem: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $286 in Oued Zem versus $475 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 154% 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 $50.0 in Oued Zem versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 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

Oued Zem vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,186 per month in Oued Zem and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Oued Zem, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Oued Zem and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $790 in Oued Zem and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Oued Zem, where all-in costs run around $790, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Oued Zem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Oued Zem – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Oued Zem. 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.