Cost of Living Comparison Between Alcoy and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Alcoy and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,626 per month in Alcoy vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,406 per month in Alcoy vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,185 per month in Alcoy vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Alcoy is about 3% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Alcoy and Medellin sit above the global median – Alcoy by 19%, Medellin by 23%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.28 €8.96
$8.02 COP 25.0K
28.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5 €51.0
$47.87 COP 149.4K
22.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.13 €11.45
$9.89 COP 30.8K
32.76%
Cappuccino
$1.89 €1.65
$3.13 COP 9,767
-39.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 €1.55
$1.91 COP 5,954
-6.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.15
$1.51 COP 4,712
-13.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.39 €2.96
$3.12 COP 9,747
8.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 €2.08
$5.75 COP 17.9K
-58.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.95
$1.44 COP 4,509
-24.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 €1.30
$2.49 COP 7,759
-39.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.45 €1.27
$1.77 COP 5,535
-18.08%
Eggs
$3.31 €2.89
$2.96 COP 9,235
11.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.20 €12.38
$10.07 COP 31.4K
41.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.48 €7.39
$10.12 COP 31.6K
-16.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.34 €14.25
$14.30 COP 44.6K
14.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 €2.27
$4.14 COP 12.9K
-36.96%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 €1.90
$1.61 COP 5,019
35.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 €1.86
$2.25 COP 7,007
-5.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.58 €2.25
$2.25 COP 7,028
14.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 €1.69
$2.04 COP 6,375
-4.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.54 COP 4,790
35.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 €1.19
$1.17 COP 3,651
16.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 €0.52
$1.31 COP 4,077
-54.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.53 €5.69
$3.90 COP 12.2K
67.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.99
$14.01 COP 43.7K
-59.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 €1.11
$1.74 COP 5,439
-26.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.21
$2.87 COP 8,956
-51.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.72 €1.50
$1.22 COP 3,792
40.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.92 €30.44
$80.5 COP 251.1K
-56.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.02 €3.50
$1.31 COP 4,084
206.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 €1.20
$2.19 COP 6,825
-36.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.54 €21.39
$8.71 COP 27.2K
181.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.73 €1.51
$1.37 COP 4,260
26.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.4K €31.7K
$27.8K COP 86.9M
30.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K €26.4K
$35.8K COP 111.6M
-15.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 €137
$177 COP 553.2K
-11.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.55 €16.17
$13.88 COP 43.3K
33.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.99 €27.02
$29.72 COP 92.8K
4.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.03 €40.12
$44.88 COP 140.1K
2.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.86 €14.70
$17.12 COP 53.4K
-1.52%
Cinema Ticket
$9.92 €8.65
$6.65 COP 20.7K
49.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$499 €435
$813 COP 2.5M
-38.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,813 €7,682
$9,187 COP 28.7M
-4.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3 €77.0
$89.5 COP 279.3K
-1.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.14 €32.38
$59.0 COP 184.0K
-37.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.8 €80.0
$138 COP 431.2K
-33.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 €97.8
$102 COP 318.7K
9.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$943 €822
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-11.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$697 €608
$663 COP 2.1M
5.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,408 €1,228
$1,888 COP 5.9M
-25.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,056 €921
$1,027 COP 3.2M
2.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,401 €2,965
$4,183 COP 13.1M
-18.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,331 €2,032
$1,675 COP 5.2M
39.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,967 €1,714
$678 COP 2.1M
190.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.3
10.94
-69.84%

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

Last update for Alcoy: September 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $943 in Alcoy 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 190% higher in Alcoy, 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 $59.0 in Alcoy versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $270 in Alcoy vs $305 in Medellin – so Alcoy wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Alcoy vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Alcoy and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,626 in Alcoy, $1,681 in Medellin – roughly 3% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Alcoy compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,440 per month in Alcoy and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Alcoy and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Alcoy, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Alcoy and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Alcoy, where all-in costs run around $1,626, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Alcoy it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Alcoy and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,626 in Alcoy to $1,681 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Alcoy or Medellin safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Alcoy and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Alcoy. 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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