🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,553 in Catania versus $1,716 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,438 in Catania versus $2,527 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,322 in Catania versus $3,338 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Catania costs roughly 9% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Catania13% above, Medellin25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Catania
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.37€14.93
$8.03COP 25.2K
116.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5€49.46
$48.26COP 151.7K
19.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.85€10.18
$9.77COP 30.7K
21.29%
Cappuccino
$2.37€2.04
$2.91COP 9,149
-18.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.57
$1.94COP 6,110
54.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.62
$1.52COP 4,783
23.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.94€5.97
$3.09COP 9,721
124.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.46€3.83
$5.74COP 18.1K
-22.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Catania
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32€1.13
$1.36COP 4,287
-2.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73€1.49
$2.39COP 7,505
-27.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.75€2.37
$1.70COP 5,346
61.76%
Eggs
$3.53€3.04
$2.87COP 9,021
23.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.53€9.91
$9.94COP 31.2K
16.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.36€10.63
$10.78COP 33.9K
14.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.42€14.12
$14.73COP 46.3K
11.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$4.09COP 12.8K
-48.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.57COP 4,940
14.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43€1.23
$2.13COP 6,682
-32.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73€2.35
$2.21COP 6,959
23.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.63€1.40
$2.05COP 6,435
-20.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35€1.16
$1.50COP 4,728
-10.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27€1.10
$1.19COP 3,740
6.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45€0.39
$1.16COP 3,640
-61.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.89€5.92
$3.90COP 12.2K
76.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.35€7.17
$14.44COP 45.4K
-42.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81€1.55
$1.58COP 4,978
14.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.43
$2.83COP 8,889
-40.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Catania
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.58€1.36
$1.17COP 3,672
35.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.44€33.05
$77.7COP 244.3K
-50.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.33€7.16
$1.28COP 4,038
550.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.36€2.03
$2.09COP 6,576
12.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.08€30.16
$8.62COP 27.1K
306.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13€1.83
$1.30COP 4,080
63.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K€32.7K
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
37.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.2K€31.9K
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
4.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Catania
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$262€226
$176COP 553.4K
49.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.41€8.95
$13.37COP 42.0K
-22.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.16€32.80
$29.89COP 94.0K
27.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Catania
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.8€54.9
$44.76COP 140.7K
42.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.89€13.66
$17.06COP 53.6K
-6.86%
Cinema Ticket
$10.27€8.83
$6.20COP 19.5K
65.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Catania
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$466€401
$793COP 2.5M
-41.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,938€5,964
$9,019COP 28.4M
-23.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Catania
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.6€74.5
$85.6COP 269.1K
1.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.32€28.65
$58.5COP 183.8K
-43.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.6€77.9
$136COP 428.4K
-33.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134€116
$103COP 324.1K
30.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Catania
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$620€533
$1,060COP 3.3M
-41.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$386€332
$680COP 2.1M
-43.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,190€1,023
$2,012COP 6.3M
-40.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$805€692
$1,169COP 3.7M
-31.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,324€1,998
$4,111COP 12.9M
-43.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,588€1,365
$1,701COP 5.3M
-6.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Catania
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,880€1,616
$665COP 2.1M
182.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.55
10.94
-67.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Catania: September 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $620 in Catania and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Catania pays 183% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Catania vs $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $289 vs $303, with Catania cheaper for home cooking.
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
Catania vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Catania?
Catania is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Catania or Medellin?
Average pay runs 183% higher in Catania, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Catania and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $620 in Catania versus $1,060 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Catania and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,553 per month in Catania versus $1,716 in Medellin – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Catania runs roughly 102% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Catania or in Medellin?
At $1,553 in Catania versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Catania but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Catania the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Catania or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Catania is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Catania gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.