Cost of Living Comparison Between Funchal and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Funchal and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Funchal 60% above, Medellin 25% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Funchal
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73 €13.58
$8.03 COP 25.3K
95.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.1 €57.9
$48.26 COP 152.0K
38.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.76 €11.88
$9.77 COP 30.8K
40.84%
Cappuccino
$2.03 €1.75
$2.91 COP 9,167
-30.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.94 COP 6,122
-8.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 €1.25
$1.52 COP 4,792
-4.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.96 €2.56
$3.09 COP 9,740
-4.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 €3.45
$5.74 COP 18.1K
-30.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Funchal
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.94
$1.36 COP 4,296
-19.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 €1.57
$2.39 COP 7,519
-23.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.50
$1.70 COP 5,356
2.35%
Eggs
$4.06 €3.50
$2.87 COP 9,038
41.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.50 €9.06
$9.94 COP 31.3K
5.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.84 €6.76
$10.78 COP 34.0K
-27.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.39 €10.70
$14.73 COP 46.4K
-15.89%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 €1.56
$4.09 COP 12.9K
-55.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 €1.54
$1.57 COP 4,950
14.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 €1.59
$2.13 COP 6,695
-13.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.61 €2.26
$2.21 COP 6,972
18.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 €1.71
$2.05 COP 6,447
-2.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 €1.79
$1.50 COP 4,737
38.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.69 €1.46
$1.19 COP 3,747
42.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 €0.72
$1.16 COP 3,647
-28.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.67 €4.89
$3.90 COP 12.3K
45.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.09 €6.12
$14.44 COP 45.5K
-50.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 €1.13
$1.58 COP 4,987
-16.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 €2.24
$2.83 COP 8,905
-8.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Funchal
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.29 €1.98
$1.17 COP 3,679
95.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.46 €30.60
$77.7 COP 244.8K
-54.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.05 €3.49
$1.28 COP 4,045
216.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 €1.26
$2.09 COP 6,589
-30.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.43 €16.76
$8.62 COP 27.1K
125.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.07 €1.79
$1.30 COP 4,088
59.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K €29.8K
$27.7K COP 87.1M
24.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.9K €33.5K
$35.5K COP 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
$176 COP 554.5K
-27.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.67 €15.25
$13.37 COP 42.1K
32.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.91 €43.07
$29.89 COP 94.1K
66.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Funchal
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.24 €36.45
$44.76 COP 141.0K
-5.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.55 €7.38
$17.06 COP 53.7K
-49.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20 €7.94
$6.20 COP 19.5K
48.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Funchal
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$431 €372
$793 COP 2.5M
-45.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,907 €7,686
$9,019 COP 28.4M
-1.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Funchal
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.8 €55.1
$85.6 COP 269.6K
-25.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.11 €30.30
$58.5 COP 184.1K
-39.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.3 €78.8
$136 COP 429.3K
-33.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8 €68.0
$103 COP 324.7K
-23.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Funchal
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,536 €1,325
$1,060 COP 3.3M
44.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,269 €1,095
$680 COP 2.1M
86.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,562 €2,211
$2,012 COP 6.3M
27.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,071 €1,787
$1,169 COP 3.7M
77.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,884 €4,215
$4,111 COP 12.9M
18.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,454 €2,981
$1,701 COP 5.4M
103.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Funchal
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,461 €1,260
$665 COP 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.

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