🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,584 in Coimbra versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,363 in Coimbra versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,142 in Coimbra versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Coimbra costs roughly 6% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Coimbra16% above, Medellin23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.92€12.14
$8.02COP 25.0K
73.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.35€42.15
$47.87COP 149.4K
1.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.49€9.14
$9.89COP 30.8K
6.07%
Cappuccino
$1.98€1.73
$3.13COP 9,767
-36.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03€1.77
$1.91COP 5,954
6.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63€1.43
$1.51COP 4,712
7.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.34€2.04
$3.12COP 9,747
-25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44€3.00
$5.75COP 17.9K
-40.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04€0.91
$1.44COP 4,509
-27.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61€1.41
$2.49COP 7,759
-35.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.52
$1.77COP 5,535
-1.69%
Eggs
$3.47€3.03
$2.96COP 9,235
17.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.06€10.51
$10.07COP 31.4K
19.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.75€6.76
$10.12COP 31.6K
-23.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.10€13.16
$14.30COP 44.6K
5.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36€2.05
$4.14COP 12.9K
-43.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63€1.42
$1.61COP 5,019
1.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.06€1.79
$2.25COP 7,007
-8.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.14€2.74
$2.25COP 7,028
39.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64€1.43
$2.04COP 6,375
-19.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09€1.82
$1.54COP 4,790
35.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.65€1.44
$1.17COP 3,651
41.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74€0.65
$1.31COP 4,077
-43.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.48€5.65
$3.90COP 12.2K
66.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.95€5.18
$14.01COP 43.7K
-57.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.19
$1.74COP 5,439
-21.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.96
$2.87COP 8,956
-21.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.97€1.72
$1.22COP 3,792
61.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.92€30.44
$80.5COP 251.1K
-56.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.47€3.90
$1.31COP 4,084
241.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.29
$2.19COP 6,825
-32.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.50€12.64
$8.71COP 27.2K
66.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22€1.93
$1.37COP 4,260
62.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K€29.8K
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
22.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1K€34.1K
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
9.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137€119
$177COP 553.2K
-22.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.29€20.30
$13.88COP 43.3K
67.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.24€29.85
$29.72COP 92.8K
15.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.31€38.63
$44.88COP 140.1K
-1.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.90€10.38
$17.12COP 53.4K
-30.49%
Cinema Ticket
$8.65€7.54
$6.65COP 20.7K
30.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$763€665
$813COP 2.5M
-6.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.0K€9,599
$9,187COP 28.7M
19.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.3€85.7
$89.5COP 279.3K
9.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.02€33.14
$59.0COP 184.0K
-35.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.9€82.7
$138COP 431.2K
-31.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121€106
$102COP 318.7K
18.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$913€796
$1,062COP 3.3M
-14.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$654€570
$663COP 2.1M
-1.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,536€1,339
$1,888COP 5.9M
-18.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,081€942
$1,027COP 3.2M
5.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,820€2,458
$4,183COP 13.1M
-32.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,252€1,091
$1,675COP 5.2M
-25.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,322€1,153
$678COP 2.1M
95.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.83
10.94
-64.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Coimbra: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $913 in Coimbra and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Coimbra pays 95% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Coimbra vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $261 vs $305 per month, with Coimbra 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?
Coimbra is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Coimbra or Medellin?
Average pay runs 95% 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: $913 in Coimbra versus $1,062 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 Coimbra runs roughly 130% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $763 in Coimbra versus $813 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 $1,584 in Coimbra versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Coimbra but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Coimbra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Coimbra or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Coimbra 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 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 Coimbra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.