😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,765 in Fuenlabrada versus $1,641 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,996 in Fuenlabrada versus $2,447 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,227 in Fuenlabrada versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Fuenlabrada is roughly 8% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fuenlabrada28% above, Medellin19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fuenlabrada
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.10€14.74
$8.04COP 24.8K
112.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.6€59.1
$48.29COP 148.6K
41.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.49€9.90
$9.42COP 29.0K
21.97%
Cappuccino
$2.07€1.78
$2.94COP 9,040
-29.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29€2.84
$1.86COP 5,735
76.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96€1.69
$1.46COP 4,479
34.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.41€2.94
$3.21COP 9,882
6.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01€4.32
$5.71COP 17.6K
-12.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fuenlabrada
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$1.44COP 4,428
-13.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.06€0.91
$2.40COP 7,389
-55.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$1.70COP 5,228
21.76%
Eggs
$3.96€3.41
$2.89COP 8,896
37.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.34€15.81
$10.06COP 30.9K
82.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.43€8.13
$9.97COP 30.7K
-5.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.22€19.15
$14.20COP 43.7K
56.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$3.98COP 12.3K
-29.15%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.06
$1.58COP 4,878
50.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69€2.32
$2.15COP 6,624
25.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.88€2.48
$2.30COP 7,078
25.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.19€1.89
$2.00COP 6,169
9.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.24€1.93
$1.51COP 4,646
48.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62€1.40
$1.20COP 3,701
35.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63€0.54
$1.28COP 3,946
-50.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.35€5.48
$3.84COP 11.8K
65.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.22€7.09
$14.01COP 43.1K
-41.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14€0.98
$1.71COP 5,256
-33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.98
$2.74COP 8,440
-16.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Fuenlabrada
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.50€1.29
$1.25COP 3,834
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.96€3.42
$1.31COP 4,016
202.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54€1.33
$2.17COP 6,680
-29.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.90€20.60
$8.29COP 25.5K
188.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77€1.53
$1.36COP 4,172
30.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K€31.9K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
34.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K€26.0K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-17.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fuenlabrada
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$198€170
$169COP 519.2K
17.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.49€15.94
$13.57COP 41.8K
36.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.41€30.52
$28.32COP 87.2K
25.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fuenlabrada
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$45.71COP 140.7K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.06€8.67
$6.65COP 20.5K
51.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fuenlabrada
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$184€159
$803COP 2.5M
-77.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,117€5,273
$9,190COP 28.3M
-33.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fuenlabrada
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.5€65.1
$87.4COP 268.8K
-13.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.24€32.96
$59.4COP 182.7K
-35.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.5€69.4
$139COP 427.5K
-42.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.1€85.4
$102COP 314.0K
-2.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fuenlabrada
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,071COP 3.3M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$749€645
$653COP 2.0M
14.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,260€1,086
$1,925COP 5.9M
-34.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,048COP 3.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,123COP 12.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fuenlabrada
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,727€1,489
$655COP 2.0M
163.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.09
10.94
-71.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fuenlabrada: September 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Fuenlabrada pays 164% 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: $69.0 in Fuenlabrada vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $300 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
Fuenlabrada vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Fuenlabrada?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Fuenlabrada or Medellin?
Average pay runs 164% higher in Fuenlabrada, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do food prices compare in Fuenlabrada and in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Fuenlabrada. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Fuenlabrada and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,765 per month in Fuenlabrada versus $1,641 in Medellin – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Fuenlabrada or in Medellin?
At $1,641 in Medellin versus $1,765 in Fuenlabrada, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Fuenlabrada. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Fuenlabrada or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Fuenlabrada, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Fuenlabrada or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Fuenlabrada 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 8% less than in Fuenlabrada. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Fuenlabrada vs other spots: cost of living compared