Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Rabat: $921 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $8,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rabat, Morocco
Medellin, Colombia
Rabat
🇲🇦 Morocco
$921
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rabat and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Rabat and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $921 per month in Rabat vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Rabat $921
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $1,498 per month in Rabat vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Rabat $1,498
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Rabat vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Rabat $2,074
  • Medellin $3,186

Rabat is about 44% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Rabat sits 32% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rabat
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.99 MAD 39.21
$8.09 COP 26.1K
-50.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.46 MAD 408
$47.05 COP 151.7K
-11.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.96 MAD 68.4
$9.50 COP 30.6K
-26.74%
Cappuccino
$1.94 MAD 19.04
$3.01 COP 9,722
-35.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 MAD 5.25
$1.80 COP 5,801
-70.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 MAD 3.60
$1.41 COP 4,554
-73.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.19 MAD 51.0
$3.18 COP 10.2K
63.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 MAD 30.87
$5.75 COP 18.5K
-45.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabat
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 MAD 8.84
$1.51 COP 4,869
-40.40%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 MAD 5.93
$2.38 COP 7,667
-74.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MAD 18.85
$1.77 COP 5,712
8.47%
Eggs
$1.86 MAD 18.24
$2.89 COP 9,320
-35.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.16 MAD 110
$10.19 COP 32.9K
9.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.71 MAD 65.9
$9.87 COP 31.8K
-32.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.08 MAD 119
$13.99 COP 45.1K
-13.65%
Apples (1kg)
$1.55 MAD 15.26
$3.97 COP 12.8K
-60.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MAD 14.07
$1.55 COP 5,005
-7.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.81 MAD 7.96
$2.18 COP 7,039
-62.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.82 MAD 8.11
$2.18 COP 7,041
-62.39%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 MAD 7.06
$1.96 COP 6,328
-63.27%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 MAD 7.36
$1.59 COP 5,125
-52.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.37 MAD 3.61
$1.15 COP 3,694
-67.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 MAD 6.22
$1.24 COP 4,009
-49.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MAD 39.93
$3.96 COP 12.8K
2.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 MAD 72.1
$13.68 COP 44.1K
-46.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.56 MAD 25.20
$1.66 COP 5,352
54.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 MAD 26.36
$2.26 COP 7,281
18.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Rabat
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MAD 5.41
$1.17 COP 3,766
-52.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.62 MAD 252
$77.4 COP 249.5K
-66.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 MAD 7.16
$1.27 COP 4,089
-42.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.77 MAD 7.59
$2.05 COP 6,603
-62.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.13 MAD 40.63
$8.55 COP 27.6K
-51.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MAD 14.96
$1.35 COP 4,343
12.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MAD 296.4K
$34.1K COP 109.8M
-11.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K MAD 315.4K
$34.7K COP 111.8M
-7.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.47 MAD 349
$170 COP 547.0K
-79.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.21 MAD 100
$13.55 COP 43.7K
-24.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 MAD 329
$28.07 COP 90.5K
19.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.87 MAD 274
$43.70 COP 140.9K
-36.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.11 MAD 237
$17.19 COP 55.4K
40.26%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 MAD 58.4
$6.91 COP 22.3K
-14.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabat
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$180 MAD 1,773
$797 COP 2.6M
-77.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,261 MAD 91.0K
$9,112 COP 29.4M
1.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.83 MAD 460
$84.7 COP 273.2K
-44.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.60 MAD 399
$58.0 COP 186.9K
-29.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 MAD 900
$135 COP 435.2K
-32.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.0 MAD 648
$97.9 COP 315.6K
-32.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabat
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$572 MAD 5,618
$1,208 COP 3.9M
-52.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$345 MAD 3,394
$642 COP 2.1M
-46.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$987 MAD 9,700
$2,028 COP 6.5M
-51.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$687 MAD 6,756
$1,012 COP 3.3M
-32.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,126 MAD 20.9K
$4,170 COP 13.4M
-49.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,214 MAD 11.9K
$1,910 COP 6.2M
-36.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabat
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$721 MAD 7,092
$657 COP 2.1M
9.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.55
10.94
-58.41%

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

Last update for Rabat: October 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rabat
$345
Medellin
$642 85.8% $296
Groceries & Markets
Rabat
$203
Medellin
$297 46.6% $94
Eating Out
Rabat
$112
Medellin
$170 51.6% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
$110
Medellin
$169 53.3% $59
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
$79
Medellin
$211 167% $132
Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
$40
Medellin
$58 44.7% $18
Getting Around
Rabat
$32
Medellin
$94 189% $61

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $572 in Rabat versus $1,208 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 Rabat, 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 $41 in Rabat versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $297 – making Rabat the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇦 Rabat
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
00:25 12:25 AM
19:25 7:25 PM
5 h behind Rabat
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
573,895 Capital
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to MAD – Moroccan Dirham Converter

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 9.83 MAD (1 MAD = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.98 MAD (100 MAD = 9.11 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 3,224 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,600 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rabat Medellin 7,670 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rabat
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Rabat vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rabat cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 78%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,382 per month in Rabat and $2,459 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 Rabat, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $572 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Rabat or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $41 in Rabat and $47 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 Rabat and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $921 in Rabat and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Rabat about 44% cheaper.
Is $800 enough to cover costs in Rabat or in Medellin?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $921 in Rabat and $1,639 in Medellin. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Rabat or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rabat – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Rabat is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 44% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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