😐A single person spends $1,782 per month in La Spezia vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,655 per month in La Spezia vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,527 per month in La Spezia vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐La Spezia costs about 76% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊La Spezia sits 33% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Spezia
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.57€15.13
$5.99COP 21.4K
193.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.4€70.1
$32.86COP 117.2K
147.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.70€8.36
$7.09COP 25.3K
36.81%
Cappuccino
$1.96€1.69
$1.71COP 6,105
14.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17€2.73
$1.10COP 3,918
188.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35€1.16
$0.78COP 2,776
73.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.78€4.97
$1.68COP 5,987
244.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79€4.13
$3.07COP 10.9K
56.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Spezia
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45€1.25
$1.09COP 3,899
33.03%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04€1.76
$1.26COP 4,500
61.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.56€2.20
$1.38COP 4,914
85.51%
Eggs
$4.04€3.48
$2.19COP 7,813
84.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.25€12.27
$4.40COP 15.7K
223.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.69€12.65
$5.63COP 20.1K
160.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.20€16.54
$8.89COP 31.7K
115.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.54€2.19
$2.34COP 8,334
8.55%
Banana(1kg)
$2.10€1.81
$1.06COP 3,771
98.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.46€2.12
$1.50COP 5,365
64.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$1.38COP 4,915
106.52%
Potato(1kg)
$2.72€2.34
$1.15COP 4,104
136.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78€1.53
$1.16COP 4,148
53.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36€1.17
$0.89COP 3,176
52.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47€0.41
$0.84COP 2,992
-44.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.84€5.89
$2.28COP 8,131
200.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.54€5.63
$10.64COP 37.9K
-38.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68€1.44
$1.20COP 4,276
40.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$2.47COP 8,809
-19.43%
🚌 Getting Around
La Spezia
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.70€1.47
$0.86COP 3,051
97.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.81€33.42
$41.40COP 147.6K
-6.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.79€4.12
$1.47COP 5,255
225.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99€0.85
$1.96COP 6,997
-49.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.20€28.59
$7.74COP 27.6K
328.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.80
$0.95COP 3,403
120.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K€24.1K
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
54.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K€23.3K
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
1.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Spezia
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$265€228
$82.3COP 293.2K
222.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.87€11.08
$9.50COP 33.9K
35.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.31€26.96
$24.23COP 86.4K
29.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Spezia
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.2€53.6
$25.89COP 92.3K
140.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.55€15.11
$19.00COP 67.7K
-7.63%
Cinema Ticket
$10.60€9.13
$3.93COP 14.0K
169.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Spezia
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$587€505
$309COP 1.1M
89.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.2K€9,639
$5,965COP 21.3M
87.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Spezia
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.4€57.2
$58.7COP 209.1K
13.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.38€37.36
$32.35COP 115.3K
34.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.6€71.1
$103COP 365.7K
-19.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€105
$108COP 386.5K
12.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Spezia
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$769€662
$476COP 1.7M
61.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$608€524
$379COP 1.4M
60.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,178€1,014
$838COP 3.0M
40.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$912€785
$724COP 2.6M
25.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,998€2,581
$2,791COP 9.9M
7.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,432€2,094
$1,211COP 4.3M
100.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Spezia
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,799€1,549
$512COP 1.8M
251.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.24
13.43
-68.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for La Spezia: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $769 in La Spezia versus $476 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 251% higher in La Spezia, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in La Spezia versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $333 vs $188 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
La Spezia vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than La Spezia?
Yes – La Spezia is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,673 per month in La Spezia and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $587 per month in La Spezia and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in La Spezia and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 77% more in La Spezia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for La Spezia or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in La Spezia at $1,782. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Spezia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is La Spezia or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, La Spezia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.