😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,574 in Coimbra versus $1,017 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,365 in Coimbra versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,155 in Coimbra versus $2,188 in Medellin.
😐Living in Coimbra is roughly 55% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Coimbra is 17% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.65€10.04
$5.95COP 20.8K
95.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.56€40.11
$33.33COP 116.3K
39.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.45€8.14
$7.23COP 25.2K
30.71%
Cappuccino
$1.99€1.72
$1.63COP 5,687
22.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98€1.71
$1.09COP 3,821
81.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.23
$0.73COP 2,548
95.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.30€1.98
$1.74COP 6,065
32.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49€3.01
$3.23COP 11.3K
8.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05€0.91
$1.05COP 3,662
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.71€1.47
$1.29COP 4,515
32.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88€1.62
$1.32COP 4,617
42.42%
Eggs
$3.13€2.69
$2.27COP 7,927
37.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.38€9.80
$4.35COP 15.2K
161.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.95€6.85
$5.88COP 20.5K
35.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.88€11.96
$8.61COP 30.0K
61.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$2.25COP 7,844
9.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55€1.34
$1.07COP 3,733
44.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$1.52COP 5,322
27.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.89€2.49
$1.42COP 4,964
103.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31€1.13
$1.17COP 4,084
11.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88€1.62
$1.17COP 4,077
60.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.75€1.51
$0.89COP 3,096
96.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$0.90COP 3,146
-2.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14€5.29
$2.25COP 7,837
172.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.94€5.12
$11.04COP 38.5K
-46.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15€0.99
$1.14COP 3,977
0.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64€2.27
$2.38COP 8,301
10.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.97
$0.84COP 2,916
172.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.11€29.39
$41.95COP 146.4K
-18.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.38€3.78
$1.41COP 4,912
210.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19€1.03
$1.90COP 6,634
-37.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.41€12.42
$7.75COP 27.0K
85.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94€1.67
$1.01COP 3,509
92.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K€33.5K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
121.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K€33.3K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
45.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$136€117
$83.7COP 292.1K
62.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.20€18.27
$9.45COP 33.0K
124.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.53€36.64
$24.11COP 84.1K
76.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.96€40.46
$25.31COP 88.3K
85.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.69€4.04
$19.14COP 66.8K
-75.50%
Cinema Ticket
$8.56€7.38
$4.10COP 14.3K
108.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$346€298
$312COP 1.1M
10.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,294€7,146
$5,993COP 20.9M
38.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.2€64.8
$58.0COP 202.6K
29.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.08€30.22
$32.56COP 113.6K
7.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.4€78.8
$99.6COP 347.7K
-8.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158€136
$109COP 378.8K
45.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$778€670
$482COP 1.7M
61.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$636€548
$379COP 1.3M
67.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,397€1,204
$837COP 2.9M
66.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,098€946
$723COP 2.5M
51.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,868€2,471
$2,840COP 9.9M
0.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,282€1,104
$1,223COP 4.3M
4.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Coimbra
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,382€1,191
$541COP 1.9M
155.56%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $778 in Coimbra and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Coimbra pays 156% 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: $47.00 in Coimbra vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Coimbra or Medellin?
Coimbra pays 156% 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: $778 in Coimbra versus $482 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 23% 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 $346 in Coimbra versus $312 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 $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,574 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 55% less than in Coimbra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.