😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,497 in Abrantes, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $2,596 in Abrantes, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $3,694 in Abrantes, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 12% more than Abrantes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Abrantes sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Abrantes by 9%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Abrantes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$17.29€15.07
-53.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$56.7€49.40
-15.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$11.34€9.89
-12.79%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$2.55€2.22
22.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$1.52€1.33
25.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$1.25€1.09
20.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$2.97€2.59
5.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$3.38€2.94
70.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Abrantes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.07€0.93
34.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$1.14€0.99
118.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$1.02€0.89
73.53%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$2.76€2.40
7.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$9.26€8.07
8.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$8.06€7.03
25.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$15.49€13.51
-7.68%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$2.96€2.58
39.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$1.40€1.22
15.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$2.02€1.76
11.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$2.29€2.00
-1.75%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$2.06€1.80
-0.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$2.13€1.86
-27.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$1.76€1.53
-33.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.65€0.57
101.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$6.30€5.49
-38.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$3.40€2.96
312.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.19€1.04
46.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$2.35€2.05
22.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Abrantes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$2.32€2.03
-47.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$42.21€36.79
90.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$4.06€3.54
-67.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$0.84€0.73
160.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$17.40€15.17
-49.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$2.12€1.84
-35.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$35.1K€30.6K
-20.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$40.0K€34.9K
-10.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Abrantes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$121€105
46.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$22.01€19.18
-36.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$40.10€34.96
-25.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Abrantes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$42.81€37.32
4.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$16.50€14.38
3.76%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$9.02€7.86
-26.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Abrantes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$635€553
28.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$11.3K€9,857
-18.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Abrantes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$116€101
-22.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$46.76€40.76
26.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$88.2€76.9
56.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$106€92.4
-3.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Abrantes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$989€862
7.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$584€509
13.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$984€858
91.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$1,527€1,331
-32.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$3,551€3,095
17.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$2,516€2,193
-33.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Abrantes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$1,674€1,459
-59.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.54
209.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Abrantes: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $989 in Abrantes. 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 147% higher in Abrantes, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $57.0 in Abrantes. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $237 in Abrantes – so Abrantes wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Medellin vs Abrantes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Abrantes compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,681 in Medellin, $1,497 in Abrantes – roughly 12% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Abrantes?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $2,245 in Abrantes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Abrantes?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Abrantes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 28% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $57.0 in Abrantes. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Abrantes, where all-in costs run around $1,497, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Abrantes it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Abrantes?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,497 in Abrantes to $1,681 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Abrantes safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Medellin and Abrantes?
If budget matters most, go with Abrantes. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.