😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,271 in Luxembourg versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,721 in Luxembourg versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,171 in Luxembourg versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Luxembourg is roughly 223% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Luxembourg is 144% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Luxembourg
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.66€22.09
$5.99COP 21.4K
328.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$103€88.3
$32.86COP 117.2K
212.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.96€12.88
$7.09COP 25.3K
111.00%
Cappuccino
$4.68€4.03
$1.71COP 6,105
173.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26€3.67
$1.10COP 3,918
287.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87€3.34
$0.78COP 2,776
396.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.09€6.11
$1.68COP 5,987
322.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.91€5.09
$3.07COP 10.9K
92.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Luxembourg
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65€1.42
$1.09COP 3,899
51.38%
White Bread(500g)
$3.53€3.04
$1.26COP 4,500
180.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.88€2.48
$1.38COP 4,914
108.70%
Eggs
$5.04€4.34
$2.19COP 7,813
130.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.03€16.39
$4.40COP 15.7K
332.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.55€13.39
$5.63COP 20.1K
176.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.75€20.45
$8.89COP 31.7K
167.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.21€2.76
$2.34COP 8,334
37.18%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38€2.05
$1.06COP 3,771
124.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.31€2.85
$1.50COP 5,365
120.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.33€3.73
$1.38COP 4,915
213.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.81€2.42
$1.15COP 4,104
144.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.56€2.20
$1.16COP 4,148
120.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.01€1.73
$0.89COP 3,176
125.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00€0.86
$0.84COP 2,992
19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.42€6.39
$2.28COP 8,131
225.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.49€9.89
$10.64COP 37.9K
7.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90€1.63
$1.20COP 4,276
58.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46€2.12
$2.47COP 8,809
-0.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Luxembourg
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.86COP 3,051
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.40COP 147.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.82€5.01
$1.47COP 5,255
295.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.53€3.04
$1.96COP 6,997
80.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$45.75€39.40
$7.74COP 27.6K
491.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79€1.54
$0.95COP 3,403
88.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9K€30.1K
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
92.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.8K€29.1K
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
27.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Luxembourg
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$286€246
$82.3COP 293.2K
247.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83€23.97
$9.50COP 33.9K
192.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.4€51.1
$24.23COP 86.4K
144.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Luxembourg
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8€51.5
$25.89COP 92.3K
131.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.53€21.99
$19.00COP 67.7K
34.37%
Cinema Ticket
$17.35€14.94
$3.93COP 14.0K
341.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Luxembourg
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,473€1,268
$309COP 1.1M
376.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.4K€16.7K
$5,965COP 21.3M
225.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Luxembourg
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.3€82.9
$58.7COP 209.1K
64.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.57€40.96
$32.35COP 115.3K
47.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106€91.3
$103COP 365.7K
3.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139€120
$108COP 386.5K
28.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Luxembourg
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,068€1,781
$476COP 1.7M
334.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,818€1,565
$379COP 1.4M
379.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,790€3,263
$838COP 3.0M
352.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,853€2,457
$724COP 2.6M
294.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.0K€11.2K
$2,791COP 9.9M
367.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,735€7,522
$1,211COP 4.3M
621.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Luxembourg
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,366€4,621
$512COP 1.8M
948.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
13.43
-74.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Luxembourg: May 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,068 in Luxembourg and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Luxembourg pays 949% 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: $103 in Luxembourg vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $426 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
Luxembourg vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Luxembourg and Medellin?
Luxembourg and Medellin differ by about 223% in total monthly costs ($3,271 vs $1,013 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Luxembourg or Medellin?
Luxembourg pays 949% more on average, 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 Luxembourg and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,068 in Luxembourg versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Luxembourg and Medellin?
Childcare runs $1,473 in Luxembourg versus $309 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $103 in Luxembourg. 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 $3,271 in Luxembourg, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Luxembourg. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Luxembourg 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 Luxembourg or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Luxembourg 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: Luxembourg or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 223% less than in Luxembourg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Luxembourg vs other spots: cost of living compared