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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,559 per month in Alcoy vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,326 per month in Alcoy vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,094 per month in Alcoy vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Alcoy costs about 51% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Alcoy sits 17% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.47 €9.14
$6.16 COP 20.0K
69.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.9 €51.5
$32.60 COP 106.0K
80.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.16 €11.50
$7.34 COP 23.9K
79.29%
Cappuccino
$1.90 €1.66
$1.72 COP 5,592
10.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 €1.53
$1.05 COP 3,416
66.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 €1.18
$0.77 COP 2,511
75.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.42 €2.99
$1.69 COP 5,480
102.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 €2.14
$3.17 COP 10.3K
-22.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 €0.94
$1.05 COP 3,418
1.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 €1.25
$1.30 COP 4,230
10.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.46 €1.27
$1.40 COP 4,538
4.29%
Eggs
$2.95 €2.58
$2.16 COP 7,037
36.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.45 €11.75
$4.39 COP 14.3K
206.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.64 €7.55
$5.88 COP 19.1K
46.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.03 €13.13
$8.64 COP 28.1K
73.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.47 €2.16
$2.28 COP 7,415
8.33%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 €1.77
$1.11 COP 3,599
82.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 €1.73
$1.53 COP 4,976
29.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.64 €2.31
$1.35 COP 4,405
95.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.80 €1.57
$1.13 COP 3,669
59.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 €1.67
$1.13 COP 3,687
69.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 €1.17
$0.85 COP 2,749
57.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 €0.49
$0.91 COP 2,971
-38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14 €5.37
$2.34 COP 7,619
162.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.63 €4.92
$12.37 COP 40.2K
-54.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 €1.06
$1.20 COP 3,904
0.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 €1.22
$2.49 COP 8,094
-43.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.65 €1.44
$0.84 COP 2,724
96.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.89 €29.61
$40.57 COP 131.9K
-16.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.10 €3.59
$1.42 COP 4,617
188.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 €1.10
$1.92 COP 6,227
-34.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.64 €21.52
$7.66 COP 24.9K
221.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.75 €1.53
$0.99 COP 3,219
76.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K €34.3K
$18.0K COP 58.6M
117.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8K €26.0K
$26.6K COP 86.6M
11.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$135 €118
$80.8 COP 262.7K
66.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.65 €18.05
$9.95 COP 32.3K
107.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.23 €27.28
$24.18 COP 78.6K
29.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.44 €42.32
$25.08 COP 81.5K
93.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.29 €13.35
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-20.16%
Cinema Ticket
$9.03 €7.89
$3.98 COP 13.0K
126.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$407 €355
$305 COP 992.2K
33.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,491 €6,545
$6,059 COP 19.7M
23.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.8 €73.2
$58.1 COP 189.0K
44.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.05 €31.50
$32.20 COP 104.7K
11.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.2 €78.8
$101 COP 327.5K
-10.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 €96.1
$108 COP 350.3K
2.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 €739
$477 COP 1.5M
77.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$689 €602
$376 COP 1.2M
83.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,333 €1,165
$845 COP 2.7M
57.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$999 €873
$730 COP 2.4M
36.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,025 €2,643
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-5.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,443 €2,135
$1,372 COP 4.5M
78.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alcoy
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,926 €1,683
$617 COP 2.0M
212.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.5
13.43
-73.94%

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

Last update for Alcoy: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $845 in Alcoy versus $477 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 212% higher in Alcoy, 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 $59.0 in Alcoy versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $258 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
Alcoy vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Alcoy and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,559 in Alcoy, $1,031 in Medellin – roughly 51% apart. Alcoy costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Alcoy compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,338 per month in Alcoy and $1,546 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 Medellin, 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 34% more in Alcoy, 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 $33.00 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 $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Alcoy at $1,559. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Alcoy 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 $1,031 in Medellin to $1,559 in Alcoy. 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Alcoy makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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