😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,692 in Loughrea versus $1,687 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,916 in Loughrea versus $2,535 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,140 in Loughrea versus $3,383 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Loughrea is roughly 60% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Loughrea97% above, Medellin23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Loughrea
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.90€19.59
$7.89COP 24.2K
190.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$106€90.6
$44.53COP 136.5K
137.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.02€12.00
$9.29COP 28.5K
50.91%
Cappuccino
$3.50€2.99
$2.90COP 8,874
20.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.03
$1.81COP 5,541
30.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.92
$1.55COP 4,741
44.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.63€4.82
$3.25COP 9,962
73.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57€3.91
$5.88COP 18.0K
-22.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Loughrea
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.68€1.43
$1.38COP 4,230
21.74%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27€1.94
$2.45COP 7,517
-7.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.12€1.81
$1.51COP 4,617
40.40%
Eggs
$4.91€4.20
$2.78COP 8,516
76.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.53€3.02
$9.05COP 27.7K
-60.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.15€6.12
$10.65COP 32.6K
-32.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.68€9.99
$14.63COP 44.8K
-20.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01€2.57
$3.97COP 12.2K
-24.18%
Banana(1kg)
$2.30€1.97
$1.38COP 4,219
66.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.02€2.58
$2.30COP 7,056
31.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.68€4.00
$2.02COP 6,185
131.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.95€1.67
$2.09COP 6,390
-6.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.60€1.37
$1.63COP 4,996
-1.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.78€0.67
$1.08COP 3,313
-27.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.08€1.78
$1.25COP 3,843
66.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$22.33€19.10
$4.03COP 12.4K
454.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.99€11.96
$13.47COP 41.3K
3.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.47€2.97
$1.60COP 4,904
116.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58€3.06
$3.00COP 9,189
19.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Loughrea
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.54€2.17
$1.18COP 3,611
115.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$115€98.5
$79.9COP 244.9K
44.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.32€4.55
$1.61COP 4,920
230.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60€1.37
$2.13COP 6,533
-24.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.98€33.34
$8.52COP 26.1K
357.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.83€1.56
$1.35COP 4,142
35.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.9K€34.1K
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
40.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4K€33.7K
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
10.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Loughrea
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170€145
$151COP 463.8K
12.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.07€16.31
$13.10COP 40.1K
45.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.0€50.5
$32.30COP 99.0K
82.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Loughrea
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.8€48.57
$46.33COP 141.9K
22.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$52.0€44.44
$17.26COP 52.9K
200.98%
Cinema Ticket
$15.62€13.36
$6.43COP 19.7K
142.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Loughrea
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,344€1,150
$835COP 2.6M
60.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,471€4,680
$8,887COP 27.2M
-38.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Loughrea
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.4€79.0
$89.3COP 273.7K
3.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.6€45.84
$55.3COP 169.5K
-3.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116€99.4
$137COP 418.5K
-14.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122€104
$109COP 335.1K
11.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Loughrea
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,594€1,363
$952COP 2.9M
67.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,383€1,183
$668COP 2.0M
107.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,517€2,153
$2,020COP 6.2M
24.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,163€1,850
$1,148COP 3.5M
88.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,696COP 11.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,586COP 4.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Loughrea
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,676€2,289
$625COP 1.9M
327.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
10.43
-63.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Loughrea: August 18, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,594 in Loughrea and $952 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Loughrea pays 328% 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: $106 in Loughrea vs $45.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $297 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
Loughrea vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Loughrea and in Medellin?
Loughrea and Medellin differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($2,692 vs $1,687 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Loughrea or Medellin?
Average pay runs 328% higher in Loughrea, 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 Loughrea and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,594 in Loughrea versus $952 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 2% higher in Loughrea. 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 $45.00 versus $106 in Loughrea. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,687 in Medellin versus $2,692 in Loughrea, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Loughrea. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Loughrea 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 Loughrea or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Loughrea 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: Loughrea or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Loughrea. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.