😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,195 in Funchal versus $1,716 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,193 in Funchal versus $2,527 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,190 in Funchal versus $3,338 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Funchal is roughly 28% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Funchal60% above, Medellin25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Funchal
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73€13.58
$8.03COP 25.3K
95.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.1€57.9
$48.26COP 152.0K
38.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.76€11.88
$9.77COP 30.8K
40.84%
Cappuccino
$2.03€1.75
$2.91COP 9,167
-30.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77€1.52
$1.94COP 6,122
-8.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45€1.25
$1.52COP 4,792
-4.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96€2.56
$3.09COP 9,740
-4.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.45
$5.74COP 18.1K
-30.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Funchal
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.94
$1.36COP 4,296
-19.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82€1.57
$2.39COP 7,519
-23.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$1.70COP 5,356
2.35%
Eggs
$4.06€3.50
$2.87COP 9,038
41.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.50€9.06
$9.94COP 31.3K
5.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.84€6.76
$10.78COP 34.0K
-27.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.39€10.70
$14.73COP 46.4K
-15.89%
Apples(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$4.09COP 12.9K
-55.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$1.57COP 4,950
14.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$2.13COP 6,695
-13.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.61€2.26
$2.21COP 6,972
18.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99€1.71
$2.05COP 6,447
-2.93%
Onion(1kg)
$2.08€1.79
$1.50COP 4,737
38.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.69€1.46
$1.19COP 3,747
42.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83€0.72
$1.16COP 3,647
-28.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.67€4.89
$3.90COP 12.3K
45.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.09€6.12
$14.44COP 45.5K
-50.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.13
$1.58COP 4,987
-16.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60€2.24
$2.83COP 8,905
-8.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Funchal
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.98
$1.17COP 3,679
95.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.46€30.60
$77.7COP 244.8K
-54.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.05€3.49
$1.28COP 4,045
216.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46€1.26
$2.09COP 6,589
-30.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.43€16.76
$8.62COP 27.1K
125.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07€1.79
$1.30COP 4,088
59.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.8K
$27.7KCOP 87.1M
24.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.9K€33.5K
$35.5KCOP 111.8M
9.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Funchal
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$128€110
$176COP 554.5K
-27.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.67€15.25
$13.37COP 42.1K
32.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.91€43.07
$29.89COP 94.1K
66.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Funchal
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.24€36.45
$44.76COP 141.0K
-5.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.55€7.38
$17.06COP 53.7K
-49.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.94
$6.20COP 19.5K
48.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Funchal
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$431€372
$793COP 2.5M
-45.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,907€7,686
$9,019COP 28.4M
-1.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Funchal
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.8€55.1
$85.6COP 269.6K
-25.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.11€30.30
$58.5COP 184.1K
-39.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.3€78.8
$136COP 429.3K
-33.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8€68.0
$103COP 324.7K
-23.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Funchal
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,536€1,325
$1,060COP 3.3M
44.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,269€1,095
$680COP 2.1M
86.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,562€2,211
$2,012COP 6.3M
27.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,071€1,787
$1,169COP 3.7M
77.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,884€4,215
$4,111COP 12.9M
18.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,454€2,981
$1,701COP 5.4M
103.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Funchal
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,461€1,260
$665COP 2.1M
119.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.59
10.94
-67.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Funchal: August 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,536 in Funchal and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Funchal pays 120% 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: $67.0 in Funchal vs $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $253 vs $303, with Funchal cheaper for home cooking.
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
Funchal vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Funchal and in Medellin?
Funchal and Medellin differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($2,195 vs $1,716 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Funchal or Medellin?
Average pay runs 120% higher in Funchal, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Funchal and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,536 in Funchal versus $1,060 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Funchal or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,195 per month in Funchal versus $1,716 in Medellin – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Funchal and in Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 119% less than in Funchal. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,716 in Medellin versus $2,195 in Funchal, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Funchal. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Funchal and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Funchal or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Funchal 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.
Where should expats move: Funchal or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Funchal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.