😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,909 in Bergamo versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,823 in Bergamo versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,736 in Bergamo versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Bergamo is roughly 88% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bergamo is 42% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bergamo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.66€16.05
$5.99COP 21.4K
211.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.7€79.7
$32.86COP 117.4K
182.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.80€10.15
$7.09COP 25.3K
66.43%
Cappuccino
$2.01€1.73
$1.71COP 6,115
17.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26€2.80
$1.10COP 3,924
196.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53€1.32
$0.78COP 2,781
96.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.67€4.88
$1.68COP 5,997
237.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.62€4.84
$3.07COP 11.0K
83.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bergamo
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87€1.61
$1.09COP 3,906
71.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84€1.58
$1.26COP 4,508
46.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.89€3.34
$1.38COP 4,922
181.88%
Eggs
$4.87€4.19
$2.19COP 7,827
122.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.68€14.35
$4.40COP 15.7K
279.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.86€10.20
$5.63COP 20.1K
110.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.58€16.85
$8.89COP 31.8K
120.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.93€2.52
$2.34COP 8,349
25.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.10€1.81
$1.06COP 3,777
98.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.26€2.80
$1.50COP 5,374
117.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.71€3.19
$1.38COP 4,924
168.84%
Potato(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.15COP 4,111
113.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87€1.61
$1.16COP 4,155
61.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.52€2.17
$0.89COP 3,182
183.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71€0.61
$0.84COP 2,997
-15.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.10€6.11
$2.28COP 8,145
211.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.32€3.72
$10.64COP 38.0K
-59.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.62
$1.20COP 4,284
56.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66€2.29
$2.47COP 8,824
7.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Bergamo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.93€1.66
$0.86COP 3,056
124.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$51.6€44.36
$41.40COP 147.9K
24.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.19€7.91
$1.47COP 5,264
525.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.08€1.79
$1.96COP 7,009
6.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.36€34.72
$7.74COP 27.6K
421.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.72
$0.95COP 3,409
110.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.2K€28.6K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
83.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K€29.7K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
30.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bergamo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$241€207
$82.3COP 293.7K
192.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00€12.04
$9.50COP 33.9K
47.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.55€27.14
$24.23COP 86.5K
30.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bergamo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.51€34.85
$25.89COP 92.4K
56.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.51€20.23
$19.00COP 67.9K
23.74%
Cinema Ticket
$12.63€10.86
$3.93COP 14.0K
221.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bergamo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$710€611
$309COP 1.1M
129.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2K€11.4K
$5,965COP 21.3M
122.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bergamo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.0€70.5
$58.7COP 209.5K
39.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.54€35.73
$32.35COP 115.5K
28.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.2€75.0
$103COP 366.4K
-14.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117€101
$108COP 387.2K
8.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bergamo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$870€749
$476COP 1.7M
82.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$679€584
$379COP 1.4M
79.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,998€1,719
$838COP 3.0M
138.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$883€759
$724COP 2.6M
21.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,592€3,090
$2,791COP 10.0M
28.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,584€2,223
$1,211COP 4.3M
113.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bergamo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,464€2,120
$512COP 1.8M
381.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.27
13.43
-68.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bergamo: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $870 in Bergamo and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bergamo pays 382% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $93.0 in Bergamo vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $188 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Bergamo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bergamo and Medellin?
Bergamo and Medellin differ by about 88% in total monthly costs ($1,909 vs $1,013 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bergamo or Medellin?
Bergamo pays 382% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bergamo and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $870 in Bergamo versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $93.0 in Bergamo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bergamo or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,909 per month in Bergamo versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 88% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,909 in Bergamo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Bergamo. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bergamo and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Bergamo or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bergamo and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Bergamo or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 88% less than in Bergamo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.