🙂A single person spends $1,200 per month in Covilha vs $1,589 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,873 per month in Covilha vs $2,364 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,547 per month in Covilha vs $3,139 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Covilha is about 25% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Covilha sits 10% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Covilha
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.80€7.82
$8.01COP 25.8K
9.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.08€32.05
$46.55COP 150.3K
-22.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.88€6.11
$9.43COP 30.5K
-27.04%
Cappuccino
$1.32€1.17
$2.91COP 9,398
-54.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.52
$1.75COP 5,657
-2.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13€1.01
$1.32COP 4,273
-14.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.94€1.72
$3.13COP 10.1K
-38.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47€1.31
$5.55COP 17.9K
-73.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Covilha
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02€0.91
$1.41COP 4,553
-27.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02€0.90
$2.44COP 7,878
-58.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.31€1.16
$1.63COP 5,258
-19.63%
Eggs
$2.69€2.39
$2.82COP 9,107
-4.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53€6.69
$9.69COP 31.3K
-22.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.81€6.05
$9.32COP 30.1K
-26.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.10€9.86
$13.46COP 43.4K
-17.53%
Apples(1kg)
$1.78€1.58
$4.00COP 12.9K
-55.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24€1.10
$1.48COP 4,780
-16.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.42€1.26
$2.12COP 6,856
-33.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.42€2.15
$2.25COP 7,271
7.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33€1.18
$1.91COP 6,171
-30.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.60
$1.62COP 5,228
11.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46€1.30
$1.15COP 3,706
26.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43€0.39
$1.26COP 4,074
-65.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77€5.13
$3.82COP 12.3K
51.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.03€2.70
$13.11COP 42.3K
-76.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98€0.87
$1.60COP 5,149
-38.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.23
$2.26COP 7,282
-38.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Covilha
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.96€1.74
$1.17COP 3,779
67.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.42€38.58
$75.0COP 242.1K
-42.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€4.08
$1.27COP 4,108
262.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$2.05COP 6,616
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.20COP 26.5K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.04€1.81
$1.27COP 4,098
60.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K€29.8K
$26.8KCOP 86.4M
25.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8K€33.6K
$34.4KCOP 111.1M
9.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Covilha
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130€115
$162COP 523.6K
-19.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.89€17.67
$13.12COP 42.4K
51.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.63€34.32
$28.09COP 90.7K
37.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Covilha
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.87€37.20
$44.33COP 143.1K
-5.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.04€8.92
$16.33COP 52.7K
-38.52%
Cinema Ticket
$8.35€7.42
$6.09COP 19.6K
37.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Covilha
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$85.8€76.2
$764COP 2.5M
-88.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,183€5,493
$8,904COP 28.7M
-30.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Covilha
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.3€68.7
$85.0COP 274.3K
-9.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.87€18.54
$57.5COP 185.6K
-63.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€93.3
$132COP 425.3K
-20.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$165€147
$95.8COP 309.1K
72.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Covilha
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$495€440
$1,028COP 3.3M
-51.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$391€347
$604COP 2.0M
-35.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$943€838
$1,802COP 5.8M
-47.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$791€703
$993COP 3.2M
-20.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,760€1,564
$3,921COP 12.7M
-55.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$684€607
$1,639COP 5.3M
-58.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Covilha
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,028€913
$626COP 2.0M
64.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.45
10.94
-68.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Covilha: October 5, 2026
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $495 in Covilha versus $1,028 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 64% higher in Covilha, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Covilha versus $47.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $288 – making Covilha the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Covilha vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Covilha?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 32%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,800 per month in Covilha and $2,384 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Covilha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Covilha and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 50% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Covilha or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Covilha and $47.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Covilha or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Covilha, where all-in costs run around $1,200, than in Medellin at $1,589. In Covilha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Covilha or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Covilha – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Covilha or Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Covilha. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.