😐A single person spends $2,043 per month in Bordeaux vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,075 per month in Bordeaux vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,106 per month in Bordeaux vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Bordeaux costs about 102% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Bordeaux sits 52% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.63€17.76
$5.99COP 21.4K
244.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.8€54.1
$32.86COP 117.2K
91.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.54€9.94
$7.09COP 25.3K
62.76%
Cappuccino
$3.98€3.43
$1.71COP 6,105
132.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.39
$1.10COP 3,918
152.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72€1.48
$0.78COP 2,776
120.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.20€7.06
$1.68COP 5,987
388.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.07€6.09
$3.07COP 10.9K
130.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.11
$1.09COP 3,899
17.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.09€1.80
$1.26COP 4,500
65.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.02€2.60
$1.38COP 4,914
118.84%
Eggs
$5.35€4.61
$2.19COP 7,813
144.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.30€13.18
$4.40COP 15.7K
247.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.90€14.56
$5.63COP 20.1K
200.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.46€19.34
$8.89COP 31.7K
152.64%
Apples(1kg)
$3.46€2.98
$2.34COP 8,334
47.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.25€1.93
$1.06COP 3,771
112.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.90€3.36
$1.50COP 5,365
160.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.65€4.00
$1.38COP 4,915
236.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.15COP 4,104
113.04%
Onion(1kg)
$2.79€2.40
$1.16COP 4,148
140.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.80€1.55
$0.89COP 3,176
102.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72€0.62
$0.84COP 2,992
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.73€11.82
$2.28COP 8,131
502.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.51€9.05
$10.64COP 37.9K
-1.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.09€3.52
$1.20COP 4,276
240.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45€3.84
$2.47COP 8,809
80.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02€1.74
$0.86COP 3,051
134.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.55€39.23
$41.40COP 147.6K
10.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€3.94
$1.47COP 5,255
211.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.75€1.51
$1.96COP 6,997
-10.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.74€41.11
$7.74COP 27.6K
516.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12€1.82
$0.95COP 3,403
123.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K€31.8K
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
103.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0K€31.9K
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
39.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$259€223
$82.3COP 293.2K
214.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.62€21.20
$9.50COP 33.9K
159.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.26€27.78
$24.23COP 86.4K
33.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.23€32.92
$25.89COP 92.3K
47.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.87€24.86
$19.00COP 67.7K
51.95%
Cinema Ticket
$13.71€11.81
$3.93COP 14.0K
248.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$842€725
$309COP 1.1M
172.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,251€7,966
$5,965COP 21.3M
55.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111€95.2
$58.7COP 209.1K
88.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.06€38.80
$32.35COP 115.3K
39.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.3€82.9
$103COP 365.7K
-6.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$146€126
$108COP 386.5K
34.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$875€754
$476COP 1.7M
83.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$694€597
$379COP 1.4M
83.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,583€1,363
$838COP 3.0M
88.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,231€1,060
$724COP 2.6M
70.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,157€6,163
$2,791COP 9.9M
156.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,876€4,199
$1,211COP 4.3M
302.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,172€2,732
$512COP 1.8M
519.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.79
13.43
-71.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bordeaux: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $875 in Bordeaux versus $476 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 520% 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 $63.0 in Bordeaux versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $414 vs $188 – 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
Bordeaux vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bordeaux or Medellin?
Bordeaux costs about 102% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 vs Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,065 per month in Bordeaux and $1,519 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 vs Medellin?
Public transport costs about 10% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Bordeaux and Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $842 per month in Bordeaux and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bordeaux or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Bordeaux at $2,043. 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 $1,013 versus $2,043 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 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.