Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Florence and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,614 a month against $2,416 in Florence, rent and utilities included – about $9,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Florence
🇮🇹 Italy
$2,416
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Florence and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Florence and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,416 per month in Florence vs $1,614 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Florence $2,416
  • Medellin $1,614

A couple spends around $3,684 per month in Florence vs $2,402 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Florence $3,684
  • Medellin $2,402

A family of three spends $4,952 per month in Florence vs $3,190 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Florence $4,952
  • Medellin $3,190

Florence costs about 50% more than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Florence and Medellin sit above the global median – Florence by 79%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Florence
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.03 €24.04
$7.93 COP 25.2K
240.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.7 €70.0
$46.13 COP 146.3K
70.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.67 €13.05
$9.50 COP 30.1K
54.42%
Cappuccino
$2.27 €2.02
$3.11 COP 9,866
-27.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 €2.91
$1.83 COP 5,800
78.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 €1.32
$1.38 COP 4,360
7.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.65 €5.91
$3.05 COP 9,672
118.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.59 €6.75
$5.50 COP 17.4K
38.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Florence
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 €1.71
$1.45 COP 4,600
32.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.58 €2.29
$2.36 COP 7,496
9.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.82 €2.50
$1.68 COP 5,328
67.86%
Eggs
$4.67 €4.15
$2.86 COP 9,077
63.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.16 €23.27
$10.19 COP 32.3K
156.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.16 €10.81
$9.53 COP 30.2K
27.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.75 €22.90
$14.04 COP 44.5K
83.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.01 €2.68
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-26.04%
Banana (1kg)
$2.62 €2.33
$1.50 COP 4,742
74.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.26 €2.90
$2.17 COP 6,891
50.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 €2.88
$2.31 COP 7,310
40.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.27 €2.02
$1.93 COP 6,113
17.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 €1.62
$1.64 COP 5,196
10.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.88 €1.67
$1.13 COP 3,571
66.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 €0.62
$1.25 COP 3,954
-44.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.23 €6.43
$3.99 COP 12.6K
81.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.87 €7.00
$13.35 COP 42.3K
-41.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 €1.79
$1.70 COP 5,384
18.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 €2.79
$2.37 COP 7,525
32.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Florence
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 €1.76
$1.21 COP 3,827
63.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.68 €37.96
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-44.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.63 €3.23
$1.32 COP 4,179
175.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.19 €1.06
$2.14 COP 6,774
-44.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.18 €27.73
$8.47 COP 26.8K
268.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 €1.95
$1.30 COP 4,114
68.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K €32.0K
$28.0K COP 88.7M
28.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K €30.8K
$35.4K COP 112.3M
-2.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Florence
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$247 €220
$172 COP 545.6K
43.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.81 €10.50
$13.37 COP 42.4K
-11.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.28 €29.60
$28.73 COP 91.1K
15.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Florence
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.5 €56.5
$45.24 COP 143.5K
40.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.46 €19.09
$17.04 COP 54.0K
25.94%
Cinema Ticket
$12.64 €11.24
$6.28 COP 19.9K
101.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Florence
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$747 €665
$770 COP 2.4M
-3.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.6K
$9,011 COP 28.6M
81.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Florence
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.1 €85.4
$86.4 COP 274.0K
11.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.37 €35.02
$57.1 COP 181.1K
-31.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 €96.7
$137 COP 432.9K
-20.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 €129
$97.9 COP 310.4K
47.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Florence
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,588 €1,412
$1,055 COP 3.3M
50.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,034 €920
$616 COP 2.0M
67.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,779 €2,472
$1,892 COP 6.0M
46.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,842 €1,639
$1,023 COP 3.2M
80.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,269 €5,576
$4,059 COP 12.9M
54.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,905 €3,473
$1,678 COP 5.3M
132.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Florence
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,980 €1,761
$652 COP 2.1M
203.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.16
10.94
-71.12%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Florence: October 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Florence
$1K
Medellin
$616 40.5% $418
Groceries & Markets
Florence
$410
Medellin
$295 28.1% $115
Eating Out
Florence
$355
Medellin
$168 52.6% $187
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Florence
$293
Medellin
$214 26.8% $78
Clothing & Footwear
Florence
$175
Medellin
$170 2.8% $4.9
Sport & Entertainment
Florence
$89
Medellin
$58 34.9% $31
Getting Around
Florence
$60
Medellin
$93 55% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,588 in Florence versus $1,055 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 204% higher in Florence, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Florence versus $46.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $410 vs $295 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇹 Florence
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
17:53 5:53 PM
10:53 10:53 AM
7 h behind Florence
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
382,808
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Florence Medellin 9,270 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Florence
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Florence vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Florence and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,416 in Florence, $1,614 in Medellin – roughly 50% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Florence compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,623 per month in Florence and $2,421 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Florence and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Florence or Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,416 in Florence and $1,614 in Medellin. That's a gap of about 50%.
How do commuting costs compare in Florence and in Medellin?
Public transport costs about 79% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,614, than in Florence at $2,416. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Florence it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Florence and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,614 in Medellin to $2,416 in Florence. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Florence or Medellin safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Florence and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Florence makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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