🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,639 in Iglesias versus $1,716 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,506 in Iglesias versus $2,527 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,373 in Iglesias versus $3,338 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Iglesias costs roughly 5% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Iglesias19% above, Medellin25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.32€20.05
$8.03COP 25.2K
190.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.2€60.4
$48.26COP 151.7K
45.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.49€9.88
$9.77COP 30.7K
17.60%
Cappuccino
$2.07€1.78
$2.91COP 9,149
-28.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85€2.45
$1.94COP 6,110
46.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19€1.02
$1.52COP 4,783
-21.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.69€4.89
$3.09COP 9,721
84.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62€3.97
$5.74COP 18.1K
-19.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.98
$1.36COP 4,287
-16.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13€0.97
$2.39COP 7,505
-52.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77€1.52
$1.70COP 5,346
4.12%
Eggs
$3.44€2.96
$2.87COP 9,021
19.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.14€14.73
$9.94COP 31.2K
72.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.60€6.53
$10.78COP 33.9K
-29.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.49€6.44
$14.73COP 46.3K
-49.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57€2.21
$4.09COP 12.8K
-37.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.95€1.68
$1.57COP 4,940
24.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33€2.01
$2.13COP 6,682
9.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$2.21COP 6,959
-22.62%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05€1.76
$2.05COP 6,435
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.45€2.10
$1.50COP 4,728
63.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.52€1.31
$1.19COP 3,740
27.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59€0.51
$1.16COP 3,640
-49.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.75€5.81
$3.90COP 12.2K
73.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.37€4.62
$14.44COP 45.4K
-62.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.47
$1.58COP 4,978
8.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89€1.63
$2.83COP 8,889
-33.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.78€1.53
$1.17COP 3,672
52.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.26€33.76
$77.7COP 244.3K
-49.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.09€8.67
$1.28COP 4,038
688.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.61€1.38
$2.09COP 6,576
-22.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.55€27.98
$8.62COP 27.1K
277.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.72
$1.30COP 4,080
53.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K€29.6K
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
24.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K€31.6K
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
3.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$166€142
$176COP 553.4K
-5.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.48€8.15
$13.37COP 42.0K
-29.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.63€26.33
$29.89COP 94.0K
2.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.1€54.3
$44.76COP 140.7K
41.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.21€23.39
$17.06COP 53.6K
59.50%
Cinema Ticket
$9.57€8.22
$6.20COP 19.5K
54.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$541€465
$793COP 2.5M
-31.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,246€7,089
$9,019COP 28.4M
-8.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.4€85.4
$85.6COP 269.1K
16.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.89€41.17
$58.5COP 183.8K
-18.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.6€83.9
$136COP 428.4K
-28.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125€107
$103COP 324.1K
21.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$760€654
$1,060COP 3.3M
-28.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$564€484
$680COP 2.1M
-17.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,126€968
$2,012COP 6.3M
-44.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$890€765
$1,169COP 3.7M
-23.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,367€2,894
$4,111COP 12.9M
-18.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,302€1,979
$1,701COP 5.3M
35.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iglesias
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$665COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.27
10.94
-70.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Iglesias: August 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $760 in Iglesias and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Iglesias vs $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $245 vs $303, with Iglesias 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
Iglesias vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Iglesias and in Medellin?
Iglesias and Medellin differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($1,639 vs $1,716 including rent). Iglesias 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 $2,458 in Iglesias and $2,574 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 in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $760 in Iglesias versus $1,060 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 24% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Iglesias – a meal for two runs $70.0 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,639 in Iglesias versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Iglesias but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Iglesias 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 Iglesias gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.