Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bordeaux and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,614 a month against $2,079 in Bordeaux, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Bordeaux
🇫🇷 France
$2,079
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bordeaux 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 Bordeaux and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,079 per month in Bordeaux vs $1,614 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Bordeaux $2,079
  • Medellin $1,614

A couple spends around $3,202 per month in Bordeaux vs $2,402 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Bordeaux $3,202
  • Medellin $2,402

A family of three spends $4,324 per month in Bordeaux vs $3,190 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Bordeaux $4,324
  • Medellin $3,190

Bordeaux costs about 29% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Bordeaux and Medellin sit above the global median – Bordeaux by 54%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.47 €18.21
$7.93 COP 25.2K
158.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.8 €70.1
$46.13 COP 146.3K
70.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.15 €12.59
$9.50 COP 30.1K
48.95%
Cappuccino
$4.02 €3.57
$3.11 COP 9,866
29.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 €2.57
$1.83 COP 5,800
57.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 €1.28
$1.38 COP 4,360
4.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.75 €6.90
$3.05 COP 9,672
154.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.75 €6.00
$5.50 COP 17.4K
22.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.05
$1.45 COP 4,600
-18.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.93 €1.72
$2.36 COP 7,496
-18.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.06 €2.72
$1.68 COP 5,328
82.14%
Eggs
$3.48 €3.09
$2.86 COP 9,077
21.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.91 €12.37
$10.19 COP 32.3K
36.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.27 €14.47
$9.53 COP 30.2K
70.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.22 €17.99
$14.04 COP 44.5K
44.02%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 €2.87
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-20.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.17 €1.93
$1.50 COP 4,742
44.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.51 €3.12
$2.17 COP 6,891
61.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.42 €3.93
$2.31 COP 7,310
91.34%
Potato (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$1.93 COP 6,113
17.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.90 €2.58
$1.64 COP 5,196
76.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 €1.17
$1.13 COP 3,571
16.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 €0.50
$1.25 COP 3,954
-55.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.10 €11.65
$3.99 COP 12.6K
228.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.94 €8.84
$13.35 COP 42.3K
-25.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.05 €3.60
$1.70 COP 5,384
138.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.15 €3.69
$2.37 COP 7,525
75.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.18 €1.94
$1.21 COP 3,827
80.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.01 €41.81
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-38.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 €2.04
$1.32 COP 4,179
73.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 €1.62
$2.14 COP 6,774
-14.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.26 €33.14
$8.47 COP 26.8K
339.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 €1.88
$1.30 COP 4,114
62.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.9K
$28.0K COP 88.7M
24.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K €31.0K
$35.4K COP 112.3M
-1.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$257 €229
$172 COP 545.6K
49.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.66 €13.93
$13.37 COP 42.4K
17.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.64 €27.26
$28.73 COP 91.1K
6.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.36 €29.67
$45.24 COP 143.5K
-26.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.15 €25.04
$17.04 COP 54.0K
65.20%
Cinema Ticket
$11.73 €10.44
$6.28 COP 19.9K
86.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$801 €713
$770 COP 2.4M
4.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.6K €12.1K
$9,011 COP 28.6M
50.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120 €106
$86.4 COP 274.0K
38.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.31 €40.30
$57.1 COP 181.1K
-20.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 €95.4
$137 COP 432.9K
-21.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144 €128
$97.9 COP 310.4K
47.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$913 €812
$1,055 COP 3.3M
-13.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$761 €677
$616 COP 2.0M
23.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,747 €1,554
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-7.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,381 €1,228
$1,023 COP 3.2M
34.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,806 €6,054
$4,059 COP 12.9M
67.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,667 €4,151
$1,678 COP 5.3M
178.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,893 €2,573
$652 COP 2.1M
343.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.92
10.94
-64.17%

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

Last update for Bordeaux: October 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bordeaux
$761
Medellin
$616 19.1% $145
Groceries & Markets
Bordeaux
$379
Medellin
$295 22.3% $85
Eating Out
Bordeaux
$324
Medellin
$168 48% $156
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bordeaux
$304
Medellin
$214 29.4% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Bordeaux
$188
Medellin
$170 9.3% $17
Getting Around
Bordeaux
$67
Medellin
$93 39% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Bordeaux
$57
Medellin
$58 1.7% $1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $913 in Bordeaux versus $1,055 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 343% higher in Bordeaux, 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 $79.0 in Bordeaux versus $46.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $379 vs $295 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇫🇷 Bordeaux
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
05:25 5:25 AM
22:25 10:25 PM
7 h behind Bordeaux
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
261,804
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bordeaux Medellin 8,340 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bordeaux
  • 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
Bordeaux vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bordeaux or Medellin?
Bordeaux costs about 29% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bordeaux and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,119 per month in Bordeaux and $2,421 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bordeaux or 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.
How expensive is transport in Bordeaux compared to Medellin?
Public transport costs about 63% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Bordeaux and in Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $801 per month in Bordeaux and $770 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Bordeaux or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,614, than in Bordeaux at $2,079. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bordeaux it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bordeaux or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,614 versus $2,079 in Bordeaux. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bordeaux compared to Medellin?
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.
Should I move to Bordeaux or to Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bordeaux makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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