Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $874 per month in Rabat vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,498 per month in Rabat vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,123 per month in Rabat vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Rabat is about 48% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Rabat sits 36% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.30 MAD 40.80

$8.02 COP 25.0K

-46.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.91 MAD 397

$47.87 COP 149.4K

-12.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.41 MAD 70.3

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-25.08%

Cappuccino

$1.89 MAD 17.95

$3.13 COP 9,767

-39.62%

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

$0.63 MAD 5.96

$1.91 COP 5,954

-67.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MAD 3.26

$1.51 COP 4,712

-77.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.27 MAD 49.94

$3.12 COP 9,747

68.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 MAD 29.70

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-45.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 MAD 8.46

$1.44 COP 4,509

-38.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 MAD 5.94

$2.49 COP 7,759

-74.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 MAD 17.54

$1.77 COP 5,535

4.52%

Eggs

$1.88 MAD 17.87

$2.96 COP 9,235

-36.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.37 MAD 108

$10.07 COP 31.4K

12.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.61 MAD 62.6

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-34.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.29 MAD 117

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-14.06%

Apples (1kg)

$1.62 MAD 15.37

$4.14 COP 12.9K

-60.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 MAD 13.11

$1.61 COP 5,019

-14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 MAD 8.61

$2.25 COP 7,007

-59.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 MAD 8.31

$2.25 COP 7,028

-60.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 MAD 7.07

$2.04 COP 6,375

-63.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 MAD 7.12

$1.54 COP 4,790

-51.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 MAD 3.66

$1.17 COP 3,651

-66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 MAD 6.03

$1.31 COP 4,077

-51.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.24 MAD 40.23

$3.90 COP 12.2K

8.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.77 MAD 73.7

$14.01 COP 43.7K

-44.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 MAD 24.99

$1.74 COP 5,439

51.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 MAD 25.25

$2.87 COP 8,956

-7.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 MAD 5.24

$1.22 COP 3,792

-54.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.39 MAD 250

$80.5 COP 251.1K

-67.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 MAD 7.19

$1.31 COP 4,084

-41.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 MAD 8.70

$2.19 COP 6,825

-57.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.15 MAD 39.37

$8.71 COP 27.2K

-52.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 MAD 14.84

$1.37 COP 4,260

14.60%

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

$35.0K MAD 331.5K

$27.8K COP 86.9M

25.58%

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

$32.4K MAD 307.1K

$35.8K COP 111.6M

-9.49%

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

$36.10 MAD 342

$177 COP 553.2K

-79.64%

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

$10.38 MAD 98.5

$13.88 COP 43.3K

-25.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.47 MAD 317

$29.72 COP 92.8K

12.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.19 MAD 286

$44.88 COP 140.1K

-32.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.93 MAD 265

$17.12 COP 53.4K

63.14%

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MAD 58.6

$6.65 COP 20.7K

-7.07%

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

$185 MAD 1,753

$813 COP 2.5M

-77.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,130 MAD 67.6K

$9,187 COP 28.7M

-22.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.66 MAD 471

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-44.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.43 MAD 421

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-24.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.8 MAD 880

$138 COP 431.2K

-32.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.0 MAD 645

$102 COP 318.7K

-33.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$508 MAD 4,818

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-52.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 MAD 2,692

$663 COP 2.1M

-57.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,109 MAD 10.5K

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-41.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 MAD 6,383

$1,027 COP 3.2M

-34.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,000 MAD 19.0K

$4,183 COP 13.1M

-52.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,155 MAD 11.0K

$1,675 COP 5.2M

-31.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$728 MAD 6,899

$678 COP 2.1M

7.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.52

10.94

-58.68%

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

Last update for Rabat: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $508 in Rabat versus $1,062 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 7% 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 $42.00 in Rabat versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $305 – making Rabat 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

Rabat vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 92%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,310 per month in Rabat and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rabat, 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 $42.00 in Rabat and $48.00 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 $874 in Rabat and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Rabat, where all-in costs run around $874, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Rabat it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Rabat. 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.