😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,848 in Brescia versus $1,003 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,778 in Brescia versus $1,573 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,707 in Brescia versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Brescia is roughly 84% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Brescia is 39% above, Medellin is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brescia
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.98€19.90
$5.91COP 18.6K
288.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.4€80.0
$32.96COP 103.8K
180.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.50€9.96
$7.43COP 23.4K
54.78%
Cappuccino
$2.01€1.74
$1.65COP 5,207
21.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32€2.87
$1.10COP 3,468
201.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42€1.23
$0.78COP 2,458
82.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.84€5.06
$1.72COP 5,412
239.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.22€5.39
$3.18COP 10.0K
95.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brescia
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35€1.17
$1.10COP 3,474
22.73%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40€2.08
$1.26COP 3,962
90.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.57€2.23
$1.38COP 4,349
86.23%
Eggs
$4.36€3.78
$2.18COP 6,858
100.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.56€13.47
$4.49COP 14.1K
246.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.11€11.35
$5.79COP 18.2K
126.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.02€19.07
$8.97COP 28.2K
145.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.67€2.31
$2.32COP 7,308
15.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.39€2.07
$1.06COP 3,352
125.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.66€2.30
$1.52COP 4,774
75.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.09€2.68
$1.36COP 4,270
127.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16€1.87
$1.13COP 3,552
91.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.60
$1.17COP 3,689
58.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.54€1.33
$0.90COP 2,838
71.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49€0.42
$0.90COP 2,823
-45.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.03€6.09
$2.23COP 7,034
215.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.88€7.69
$12.12COP 38.2K
-26.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89€1.64
$1.19COP 3,743
58.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60€2.25
$2.48COP 7,815
4.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Brescia
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98€1.72
$0.85COP 2,687
132.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.48€39.39
$41.62COP 131.0K
9.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.77€7.60
$1.42COP 4,459
517.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00€0.87
$1.95COP 6,141
-48.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.66€10.10
$7.89COP 24.8K
47.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02€1.75
$0.99COP 3,118
104.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K€27.1K
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
77.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4K€34.1K
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
46.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brescia
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$242€210
$83.0COP 261.4K
191.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.71€12.74
$9.70COP 30.5K
51.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.95€27.67
$23.52COP 74.1K
35.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brescia
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.61€39.50
$25.26COP 79.5K
80.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.31€17.58
$19.10COP 60.1K
6.34%
Cinema Ticket
$12.29€10.64
$3.95COP 12.4K
211.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brescia
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$750€650
$316COP 994.2K
137.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.8K€16.3K
$5,975COP 18.8M
214.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brescia
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.2€69.5
$60.0COP 188.9K
33.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.08€20.85
$31.82COP 100.2K
-24.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1€69.4
$102COP 320.1K
-21.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107€93.1
$107COP 338.3K
0.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brescia
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$751€650
$475COP 1.5M
58.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$640€554
$374COP 1.2M
71.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,159€1,004
$849COP 2.7M
36.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$921€798
$719COP 2.3M
28.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,476€3,010
$3,265COP 10.3M
6.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,211€1,914
$1,441COP 4.5M
53.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brescia
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,956€1,694
$624COP 2.0M
213.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.3
13.43
-67.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brescia: July 28, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $751 in Brescia and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brescia pays 213% 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: $92.0 in Brescia vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 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
Brescia vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brescia or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 84% lower than in Brescia. 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 Brescia or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 213% higher in Brescia, 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 Brescia compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $751 in Brescia versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Brescia and in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $92.0 in Brescia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Brescia compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,848 per month in Brescia versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 84% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Brescia or in Medellin?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,848 in Brescia, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Brescia. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Brescia or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,003 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Brescia compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Brescia 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 84% less than in Brescia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.