😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,047 in Bourges versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,111 in Bourges versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,176 in Bourges versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Bourges is roughly 99% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bourges is 53% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bourges
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.31€15.16
$6.16COP 20.1K
181.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.0€64.8
$32.60COP 106.1K
126.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.84€11.24
$7.34COP 23.9K
74.93%
Cappuccino
$3.85€3.37
$1.72COP 5,599
123.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84€2.49
$1.05COP 3,420
170.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.56
$0.77COP 2,515
131.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.29€7.26
$1.69COP 5,487
390.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.86€6.01
$3.17COP 10.3K
116.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bourges
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53€1.34
$1.05COP 3,423
45.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.61€2.29
$1.30COP 4,236
100.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.59€2.27
$1.40COP 4,544
85.00%
Eggs
$4.20€3.68
$2.16COP 7,046
94.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$25.05€21.94
$4.39COP 14.3K
470.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.09€14.09
$5.88COP 19.1K
173.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.21€22.95
$8.64COP 28.1K
203.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71€2.38
$2.28COP 7,425
18.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.61€2.29
$1.11COP 3,603
135.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.49€3.06
$1.53COP 4,982
128.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.87€3.39
$1.35COP 4,410
186.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.89€2.53
$1.13COP 3,674
155.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.83€2.48
$1.13COP 3,692
150.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46€1.28
$0.85COP 2,753
71.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87€0.76
$0.91COP 2,975
-4.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.15€12.39
$2.34COP 7,629
504.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.89€6.91
$12.37COP 40.3K
-36.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.23€2.83
$1.20COP 3,909
169.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09€2.70
$2.49COP 8,104
24.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Bourges
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.00€1.76
$0.84COP 2,727
138.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.20€42.21
$40.57COP 132.1K
18.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.66€4.95
$1.42COP 4,623
298.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.83€1.60
$1.92COP 6,235
-4.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$57.6€50.5
$7.66COP 24.9K
652.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11€1.85
$0.99COP 3,223
113.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K€32.4K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
105.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.6K€32.1K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
37.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bourges
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$278€244
$80.8COP 263.1K
244.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.21€19.45
$9.95COP 32.4K
123.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.67€32.99
$24.18COP 78.7K
55.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bourges
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.40€32.76
$25.08COP 81.6K
49.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.30€16.02
$19.15COP 62.3K
-4.44%
Cinema Ticket
$14.04€12.29
$3.98COP 13.0K
252.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bourges
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$290€254
$305COP 993.4K
-5.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.0K€10.5K
$6,059COP 19.7M
97.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bourges
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111€96.8
$58.1COP 189.2K
90.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.7€44.41
$32.20COP 104.8K
57.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122€107
$101COP 327.9K
21.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$167€147
$108COP 350.8K
55.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bourges
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$779€682
$477COP 1.6M
63.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$622€544
$376COP 1.2M
65.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,201€1,052
$845COP 2.7M
42.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,092€957
$730COP 2.4M
49.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,029€901
$1,372COP 4.5M
-25.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bourges
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,867€2,511
$617COP 2.0M
364.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.76
13.43
-72.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bourges: July 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $779 in Bourges and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bourges pays 365% 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: $74.0 in Bourges vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $434 vs $193 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
Bourges vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bourges or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 99% lower than in Bourges. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bourges or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 365% higher in Bourges, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bourges compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $779 in Bourges versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Bourges and in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $74.0 in Bourges. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Bourges compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,047 per month in Bourges versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 99% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bourges or in Medellin?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $2,047 in Bourges, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Bourges. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bourges or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,031 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Bourges compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Bourges 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 99% less than in Bourges. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.