😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,518 in Coimbra versus $1,003 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,316 in Coimbra versus $1,573 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,114 in Coimbra versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Coimbra is roughly 51% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Coimbra is 14% above, Medellin is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.53€10.00
$5.91COP 18.6K
95.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.60€39.56
$32.96COP 103.9K
38.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.35€8.11
$7.43COP 23.4K
25.84%
Cappuccino
$1.95€1.69
$1.65COP 5,212
18.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05€1.78
$1.10COP 3,472
86.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.24
$0.78COP 2,461
83.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.27€1.97
$1.72COP 5,417
31.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51€3.04
$3.18COP 10.0K
10.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11€0.96
$1.10COP 3,478
0.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75€1.52
$1.26COP 3,966
38.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88€1.63
$1.38COP 4,354
36.23%
Eggs
$2.96€2.56
$2.18COP 6,866
35.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.27€9.78
$4.49COP 14.2K
151.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79€6.76
$5.79COP 18.3K
34.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.96€12.11
$8.97COP 28.3K
55.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.50€2.17
$2.32COP 7,315
7.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47€1.28
$1.06COP 3,356
38.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95€1.69
$1.52COP 4,779
28.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.01€2.61
$1.36COP 4,274
121.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37€1.19
$1.13COP 3,555
21.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90€1.65
$1.17COP 3,692
62.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.66€1.44
$0.90COP 2,841
84.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93€0.81
$0.90COP 2,826
3.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.91€5.12
$2.23COP 7,041
165.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.99€5.20
$12.12COP 38.2K
-50.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14€0.99
$1.19COP 3,747
-4.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69€2.33
$2.48COP 7,823
8.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35€2.04
$0.85COP 2,690
176.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.83€30.21
$41.62COP 131.2K
-16.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.39€3.81
$1.42COP 4,463
209.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19€1.04
$1.95COP 6,147
-38.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.53€12.61
$7.89COP 24.9K
84.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.74
$0.99COP 3,122
103.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€33.6K
$17.6KCOP 55.5M
120.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0K€34.7K
$26.8KCOP 84.5M
49.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137€119
$83.0COP 261.6K
65.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.01€18.23
$9.70COP 30.6K
116.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.90€36.35
$23.52COP 74.1K
78.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.47€39.45
$25.26COP 79.6K
80.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.77€4.13
$19.10COP 60.2K
-75.03%
Cinema Ticket
$8.53€7.40
$3.95COP 12.4K
115.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$341€296
$316COP 995.3K
8.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,180€7,096
$5,975COP 18.8M
36.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.7€63.1
$60.0COP 189.1K
21.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.28€29.74
$31.82COP 100.3K
7.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.7€79.5
$102COP 320.4K
-9.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154€133
$107COP 338.7K
42.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$770€668
$475COP 1.5M
62.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$633€549
$374COP 1.2M
69.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,416€1,229
$849COP 2.7M
66.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,087€943
$719COP 2.3M
51.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,839€2,463
$3,265COP 10.3M
-13.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,274€1,105
$1,441COP 4.5M
-11.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,358€1,178
$624COP 2.0M
117.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.43
13.43
-59.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Coimbra: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $770 in Coimbra and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Coimbra pays 117% 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: $46.00 in Coimbra vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $256 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
Coimbra vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Coimbra?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Coimbra or Medellin?
Average pay runs 117% higher in Coimbra, 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 Coimbra and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $770 in Coimbra versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 19% less than in Coimbra. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $341 in Coimbra versus $316 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Coimbra or in Medellin?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,518 in Coimbra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Coimbra. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Coimbra or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Coimbra, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Coimbra or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Coimbra 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Coimbra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.