😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,524 in Coimbra versus $1,034 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,317 in Coimbra versus $1,577 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,109 in Coimbra versus $2,120 in Medellin.
😐Living in Coimbra is roughly 47% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Coimbra is 14% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.46€9.81
$5.92COP 21.4K
93.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.48€38.93
$32.75COP 118.2K
38.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.17€7.85
$7.20COP 26.0K
27.36%
Cappuccino
$1.95€1.67
$1.70COP 6,140
14.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09€1.79
$1.10COP 3,966
90.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$0.72COP 2,605
91.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26€1.94
$1.67COP 6,022
35.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55€3.04
$3.10COP 11.2K
14.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10€0.94
$1.06COP 3,809
3.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.72€1.47
$1.25COP 4,497
37.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85€1.58
$1.39COP 5,022
33.09%
Eggs
$2.96€2.53
$2.26COP 8,168
30.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.13€9.53
$4.33COP 15.6K
157.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.79€6.67
$5.84COP 21.1K
33.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.23€12.18
$8.83COP 31.9K
61.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.59€2.22
$2.24COP 8,099
15.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47€1.26
$1.08COP 3,882
36.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.72
$1.53COP 5,522
31.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.01€2.58
$1.37COP 4,950
119.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31€1.12
$1.13COP 4,078
15.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.54
$1.12COP 4,036
60.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.68€1.44
$0.85COP 3,057
97.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96€0.82
$0.91COP 3,281
5.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.26€5.36
$2.33COP 8,414
168.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.99€5.13
$11.13COP 40.2K
-46.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10€0.94
$1.19COP 4,309
-7.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71€2.32
$2.37COP 8,553
14.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.96
$0.79COP 2,838
189.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.32€30.23
$41.13COP 148.5K
-14.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.75
$1.44COP 5,184
204.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.24€1.07
$1.91COP 6,901
-35.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.70€12.58
$8.02COP 28.9K
83.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.70
$0.94COP 3,385
111.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K€32.3K
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
110.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.9K€33.3K
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
45.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$133€114
$84.0COP 303.1K
58.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.54€18.43
$9.60COP 34.7K
124.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.38€36.28
$24.16COP 87.2K
75.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.25€39.59
$25.88COP 93.4K
78.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.73€4.05
$19.04COP 68.7K
-75.16%
Cinema Ticket
$8.53€7.30
$3.92COP 14.1K
117.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$343€293
$306COP 1.1M
11.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,413€7,202
$5,919COP 21.4M
42.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.9€63.2
$57.9COP 209.1K
27.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.96€29.07
$31.82COP 114.9K
6.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.7€80.2
$99.9COP 360.6K
-6.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155€133
$107COP 386.8K
44.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$760€651
$487COP 1.8M
56.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$638€546
$368COP 1.3M
73.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,428€1,222
$826COP 3.0M
72.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,100€941
$716COP 2.6M
53.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,902€2,484
$2,925COP 10.6M
-0.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,267€1,084
$1,407COP 5.1M
-9.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,406€1,204
$546COP 2.0M
157.80%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $760 in Coimbra and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Coimbra pays 158% 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: $45.00 in Coimbra vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $256 vs $190 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 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Coimbra or Medellin?
Coimbra pays 158% more on average, 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: $760 in Coimbra versus $487 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 16% 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 $343 in Coimbra versus $306 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 Coimbra or Medellin?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,524 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 47% less than in Coimbra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.