😐A single person spends $1,769 per month in Cagliari vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,759 per month in Cagliari vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,749 per month in Cagliari vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Cagliari costs about 72% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Cagliari sits 32% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cagliari
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.89€20.05
$6.16COP 20.1K
271.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.8€80.4
$32.60COP 106.1K
181.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.02€9.65
$7.34COP 23.9K
50.14%
Cappuccino
$1.77€1.55
$1.72COP 5,599
2.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93€2.57
$1.05COP 3,420
179.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41€1.24
$0.77COP 2,515
83.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.80€5.08
$1.69COP 5,487
243.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71€4.13
$3.17COP 10.3K
48.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cagliari
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.58€1.38
$1.05COP 3,423
50.48%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33€2.04
$1.30COP 4,236
79.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.45€3.02
$1.40COP 4,544
146.43%
Eggs
$3.35€2.94
$2.16COP 7,046
55.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.95€14.84
$4.39COP 14.3K
286.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.86€11.26
$5.88COP 19.1K
118.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.39€16.98
$8.64COP 28.1K
124.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.47€2.16
$2.28COP 7,425
8.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67€1.46
$1.11COP 3,603
50.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19€1.92
$1.53COP 4,982
43.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.71€3.25
$1.35COP 4,410
174.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.89€1.66
$1.13COP 3,674
67.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06€1.80
$1.13COP 3,692
82.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41€1.23
$0.85COP 2,753
65.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56€0.49
$0.91COP 2,975
-38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.91€6.06
$2.34COP 7,629
195.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.84€6.86
$12.37COP 40.3K
-36.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63€1.42
$1.20COP 3,909
35.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.20
$2.49COP 8,104
-45.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Cagliari
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.48€1.29
$0.84COP 2,727
76.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.39€35.38
$40.57COP 132.1K
-0.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.84€3.36
$1.42COP 4,623
170.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.16€1.02
$1.92COP 6,235
-39.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.02€25.42
$7.66COP 24.9K
278.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10€1.84
$0.99COP 3,223
112.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.0K€29.7K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
88.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K€31.3K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
34.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cagliari
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$180€158
$80.8COP 263.1K
123.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.14€11.51
$9.95COP 32.4K
32.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.16€27.29
$24.18COP 78.7K
28.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cagliari
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.6€45.18
$25.08COP 81.6K
105.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.77€39.21
$19.15COP 62.3K
133.79%
Cinema Ticket
$10.66€9.33
$3.98COP 13.0K
167.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cagliari
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$551€482
$305COP 993.4K
80.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,000€7,007
$6,059COP 19.7M
32.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cagliari
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.8€78.6
$58.1COP 189.2K
54.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.3€55.5
$32.20COP 104.8K
96.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8€74.2
$101COP 327.9K
-15.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€105
$108COP 350.8K
11.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cagliari
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$923€808
$477COP 1.6M
93.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$655€574
$376COP 1.2M
74.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,477€1,294
$845COP 2.7M
74.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,004€879
$730COP 2.4M
37.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,348€2,932
$3,215COP 10.5M
4.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,372€2,077
$1,372COP 4.5M
72.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cagliari
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,848€1,618
$617COP 2.0M
199.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.87
13.43
-63.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cagliari: July 11, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $923 in Cagliari versus $477 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 200% higher in Cagliari, 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 $92.0 in Cagliari versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $338 vs $193 – 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
Cagliari vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Cagliari?
Yes – Cagliari is pricier by about 72%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,653 per month in Cagliari and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 0% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $551 per month in Cagliari and $305 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cagliari or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Cagliari at $1,769. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cagliari it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cagliari or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Cagliari or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cagliari makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.