Cost of Living Comparison Between Iglesias and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Iglesias and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,645 in Iglesias versus $1,013 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,487 in Iglesias versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Iglesias versus $2,192 in Medellin.

Living in Iglesias is roughly 62% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Iglesias is 23% above, Medellin is 24% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.03 €19.82
$5.99 COP 21.3K
284.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.8 €59.2
$32.86 COP 116.9K
109.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.89 €9.37
$7.09 COP 25.2K
53.60%
Cappuccino
$1.85 €1.59
$1.71 COP 6,093
8.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 €2.52
$1.10 COP 3,910
166.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 €1.02
$0.78 COP 2,771
51.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.64 €4.85
$1.68 COP 5,976
235.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 €4.09
$3.07 COP 10.9K
55.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.01
$1.09 COP 3,892
7.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.26 COP 4,492
-9.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.38 COP 4,905
27.54%
Eggs
$3.33 €2.87
$2.19 COP 7,799
52.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.05 €14.68
$4.40 COP 15.7K
287.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.38 €6.35
$5.63 COP 20.0K
31.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.62 €6.56
$8.89 COP 31.6K
-14.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.46 €2.12
$2.34 COP 8,319
5.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.06 COP 3,764
65.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 €1.95
$1.50 COP 5,355
51.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.78 €1.53
$1.38 COP 4,906
28.99%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 €1.63
$1.15 COP 4,097
65.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.05 €1.77
$1.16 COP 4,141
76.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 €1.20
$0.89 COP 3,170
56.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 €0.48
$0.84 COP 2,986
-34.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.64 €5.72
$2.28 COP 8,116
191.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.33 €4.59
$10.64 COP 37.9K
-49.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 €1.46
$1.20 COP 4,268
41.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 €1.16
$2.47 COP 8,793
-45.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 €1.47
$0.86 COP 3,045
98.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.38 €37.34
$41.40 COP 147.3K
4.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 €3.29
$1.47 COP 5,245
160.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.12 €0.96
$1.96 COP 6,984
-42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.57 €25.45
$7.74 COP 27.5K
282.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.05 €1.77
$0.95 COP 3,397
115.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K €29.0K
$18.1K COP 64.5M
86.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1K €30.2K
$26.5K COP 94.2M
32.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 €154
$82.3 COP 292.7K
117.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.68 €10.06
$9.50 COP 33.8K
22.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.60 €26.34
$24.23 COP 86.2K
26.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 €46.71
$25.89 COP 92.1K
109.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.19 €19.96
$19.00 COP 67.6K
22.05%
Cinema Ticket
$9.09 €7.83
$3.93 COP 14.0K
131.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$531 €457
$309 COP 1.1M
71.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,832 €6,742
$5,965 COP 21.2M
31.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.1 €80.2
$58.7 COP 208.7K
58.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.4 €54.6
$32.35 COP 115.1K
96.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.0 €74.0
$103 COP 365.1K
-16.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 €102
$108 COP 385.8K
8.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 €651
$476 COP 1.7M
58.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$585 €504
$379 COP 1.3M
54.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,215 €1,046
$838 COP 3.0M
44.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$924 €795
$724 COP 2.6M
27.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,717 €2,339
$2,791 COP 9.9M
-2.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,983 €1,707
$1,211 COP 4.3M
63.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$512 COP 1.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.87
13.43
-63.74%

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

Last update for Iglesias: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Iglesias and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $69.0 in Iglesias vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $239 vs $188 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
Iglesias vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Iglesias and Medellin?
Iglesias and Medellin differ by about 62% in total monthly costs ($1,645 vs $1,013 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Iglesias compared to Medellin?
You'd need roughly $2,468 in Iglesias and $1,519 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Iglesias and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $756 in Iglesias versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Iglesias. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $69.0 in Iglesias. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,645 in Iglesias, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Iglesias. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Iglesias 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 Iglesias or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Iglesias 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: Iglesias or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Iglesias. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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