Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Alcoy Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Alcoy

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,626 in Alcoy, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $2,406 in Alcoy, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $3,185 in Alcoy, rent included.

Medellin costs about 3% more than Alcoy, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Alcoy sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Alcoy by 19%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Alcoy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.0K
$10.28 €8.96
-21.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 149.4K
$58.5 €51.0
-18.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 30.8K
$13.13 €11.45
-24.68%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,767
$1.89 €1.65
65.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 5,954
$1.78 €1.55
7.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,712
$1.31 €1.15
15.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,747
$3.39 €2.96
-7.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 17.9K
$2.39 €2.08
140.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Alcoy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,509
$1.09 €0.95
32.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,759
$1.50 €1.30
66.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,535
$1.45 €1.27
22.07%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,235
$3.31 €2.89
-10.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.4K
$14.20 €12.38
-29.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.6K
$8.48 €7.39
19.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 44.6K
$16.34 €14.25
-12.48%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 12.9K
$2.61 €2.27
58.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,019
$2.18 €1.90
-26.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,007
$2.13 €1.86
5.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,028
$2.58 €2.25
-12.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,375
$1.94 €1.69
5.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,790
$2.08 €1.82
-25.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,651
$1.36 €1.19
-13.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,077
$0.59 €0.52
122.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$6.53 €5.69
-40.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.7K
$5.72 €4.99
144.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,439
$1.28 €1.11
35.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 8,956
$1.39 €1.21
106.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Alcoy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,792
$1.72 €1.50
-29.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 251.1K
$34.92 €30.44
130.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,084
$4.02 €3.50
-67.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,825
$1.38 €1.20
58.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.2K
$24.54 €21.39
-64.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,260
$1.73 €1.51
-20.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 86.9M
$36.4K €31.7K
-23.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 111.6M
$30.3K €26.4K
18.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Alcoy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 553.2K
$157 €137
13.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.3K
$18.55 €16.17
-25.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 92.8K
$30.99 €27.02
-4.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Alcoy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 140.1K
$46.03 €40.12
-2.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 53.4K
$16.86 €14.70
1.54%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.7K
$9.92 €8.65
-32.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Alcoy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.5M
$499 €435
63.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 28.7M
$8,813 €7,682
4.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Alcoy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 279.3K
$88.3 €77.0
1.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 184.0K
$37.14 €32.38
58.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 431.2K
$91.8 €80.0
50.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 318.7K
$112 €97.8
-8.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Alcoy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$943 €822
12.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$697 €608
-4.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 5.9M
$1,408 €1,228
34.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$1,056 €921
-2.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.1M
$3,401 €2,965
22.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.2M
$2,331 €2,032
-28.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Alcoy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
$1,967 €1,714
-65.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.3
231.52%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Alcoy: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $943 in Alcoy. 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 190% higher in Alcoy, 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 $59.0 in Alcoy. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $270 in Alcoy – so Alcoy 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 Alcoy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Alcoy compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,681 in Medellin, $1,626 in Alcoy – roughly 3% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Alcoy?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $2,440 in Alcoy. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Alcoy?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Alcoy, 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 13% 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 $59.0 in Alcoy. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Alcoy, where all-in costs run around $1,626, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Alcoy 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 Alcoy?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,626 in Alcoy to $1,681 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Alcoy 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 Alcoy?
If budget matters most, go with Alcoy. 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.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities