Cost of Living Comparison Between Bordeaux and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bordeaux and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,151 per month in Bordeaux vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,322 per month in Bordeaux vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,492 per month in Bordeaux vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Bordeaux costs about 25% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bordeaux and Medellin sit above the global median – Bordeaux by 57%, Medellin by 25%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.04 €18.16
$8.03 COP 25.3K
162.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.7 €70.5
$48.26 COP 152.0K
69.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.43 €12.45
$9.77 COP 30.8K
47.70%
Cappuccino
$4.07 €3.51
$2.91 COP 9,167
39.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 €2.67
$1.94 COP 6,122
59.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 €1.29
$1.52 COP 4,792
-1.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.11 €7.00
$3.09 COP 9,740
162.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.86 €5.92
$5.74 COP 18.1K
19.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.10
$1.36 COP 4,296
-6.62%
White Bread (500g)
$2.02 €1.74
$2.39 COP 7,519
-15.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.05 €2.63
$1.70 COP 5,356
79.41%
Eggs
$3.83 €3.30
$2.87 COP 9,038
33.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.44 €12.46
$9.94 COP 31.3K
45.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.46 €14.20
$10.78 COP 34.0K
52.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.41 €19.33
$14.73 COP 46.4K
52.14%
Apples (1kg)
$3.54 €3.05
$4.09 COP 12.9K
-13.45%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 €2.05
$1.57 COP 4,950
51.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.76 €3.24
$2.13 COP 6,695
76.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.48 €3.87
$2.21 COP 6,972
102.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.34 €2.02
$2.05 COP 6,447
14.15%
Onion (1kg)
$3.00 €2.59
$1.50 COP 4,737
100.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 €1.21
$1.19 COP 3,747
17.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 €0.45
$1.16 COP 3,647
-55.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.46 €11.61
$3.90 COP 12.3K
245.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.36 €8.94
$14.44 COP 45.5K
-28.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.27 €3.69
$1.58 COP 4,987
170.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40 €3.80
$2.83 COP 8,905
55.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.19 €1.89
$1.17 COP 3,679
87.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.6 €43.64
$77.7 COP 244.8K
-34.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.26 €1.95
$1.28 COP 4,045
76.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.97 €1.70
$2.09 COP 6,589
-5.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.98 €33.63
$8.62 COP 27.1K
352.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 €1.80
$1.30 COP 4,088
60.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K €31.0K
$27.7K COP 87.1M
29.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3K €30.4K
$35.5K COP 111.8M
-0.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$273 €236
$176 COP 554.5K
55.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.85 €13.68
$13.37 COP 42.1K
18.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.61 €28.14
$29.89 COP 94.1K
9.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.70 €29.94
$44.76 COP 141.0K
-22.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.47 €25.43
$17.06 COP 53.7K
72.74%
Cinema Ticket
$12.35 €10.66
$6.20 COP 19.5K
99.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$829 €715
$793 COP 2.5M
4.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.7K €11.8K
$9,019 COP 28.4M
51.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$121 €105
$85.6 COP 269.6K
41.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.14 €40.67
$58.5 COP 184.1K
-19.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 €95.2
$136 COP 429.3K
-19.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 €126
$103 COP 324.7K
41.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$906 €781
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-14.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$790 €682
$680 COP 2.1M
16.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 €1,555
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-10.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,443 €1,245
$1,169 COP 3.7M
23.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,249 €6,255
$4,111 COP 12.9M
76.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,790 €4,134
$1,701 COP 5.4M
181.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bordeaux
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,014 €2,601
$665 COP 2.1M
353.10%
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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $906 in Bordeaux versus $1,060 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 353% 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 $82.0 in Bordeaux versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $398 vs $303 – 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 25% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by 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 $3,227 per month in Bordeaux and $2,574 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 54% 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 $829 per month in Bordeaux and $793 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 $1,716, than in Bordeaux at $2,151. 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 $1,716 versus $2,151 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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