Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bourges Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bourges

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,014 in Medellin versus $2,039 in Bourges.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,596 in Medellin versus $3,074 in Bourges.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,178 in Medellin versus $4,109 in Bourges.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 50% less than in Bourges, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% below, Bourges is 51% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COP 22.2K
$17.27 €14.70
-64.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COP 119.3K
$73.7 €62.8
-55.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COP 26.4K
$12.50 €10.64
-41.44%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COP 5,987
$3.86 €3.28
-56.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,987
$2.91 €2.48
-62.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,822
$1.77 €1.51
-55.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 6,188
$8.28 €7.04
-79.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.5K
$6.96 €5.92
-54.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COP 4,012
$1.47 €1.25
-24.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,719
$2.55 €2.17
-48.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,980
$2.68 €2.28
-48.51%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 8,009
$4.17 €3.55
-46.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.7K
$24.15 €20.55
-82.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.9K
$15.86 €13.50
-63.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COP 32.4K
$25.31 €21.54
-64.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 8,164
$2.72 €2.31
-16.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,023
$2.57 €2.18
-56.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COP 5,284
$3.49 €2.97
-58.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,929
$3.89 €3.31
-64.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,009
$2.76 €2.35
-59.78%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,199
$2.79 €2.38
-58.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,211
$1.48 €1.26
-39.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,124
$0.87 €0.74
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,495
$13.72 €11.67
-82.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COP 39.2K
$8.38 €7.13
29.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,330
$3.16 €2.69
-62.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,946
$3.13 €2.67
-20.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,842
$1.93 €1.64
-59.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COP 147.2K
$49.60 €42.21
-17.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 5,137
$5.89 €5.02
-75.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,900
$1.91 €1.63
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COP 27.6K
$57.4 €48.80
-86.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,490
$2.10 €1.79
-53.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 65.3M
$37.7K €32.1K
-52.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COP 95.0M
$37.9K €32.3K
-30.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 293.5K
$284 €242
-71.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COP 34.8K
$22.27 €18.95
-56.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COP 88.0K
$37.15 €31.61
-34.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COP 93.9K
$38.25 €32.55
-31.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COP 68.3K
$18.44 €15.69
2.60%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COP 14.0K
$14.10 €12.00
-72.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COP 1.1M
$291 €247
4.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COP 21.3M
$11.9K €10.1K
-50.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 211.8K
$110 €93.7
-46.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COP 117.2K
$49.93 €42.49
-34.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 367.3K
$123 €104
-17.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 390.4K
$163 €139
-33.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COP 1.7M
$770 €655
-38.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$606 €516
-38.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COP 3.1M
$1,225 €1,042
-30.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$1,105 €940
-35.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COP 10.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COP 5.0M
$1,047 €891
31.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COP 2.0M
$2,993 €2,547
-81.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
3.76
257.18%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

Last update for Bourges: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $474 in Medellin and $770 in Bourges. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bourges pays 453% 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: $33 in Medellin vs $74 in Bourges for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $427 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
Medellin vs Bourges: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Bourges?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 101% lower than in Bourges. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Bourges?
On paper, Bourges earns 453% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Bourges?
Rent for a central apartment: $474 in Medellin versus $770 in Bourges. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs Bourges?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $74.0 in Bourges. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Bourges?
All in, you'll spend $1,014 per month in Medellin versus $2,039 in Bourges – a 101% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Bourges?
At $1,014 in Medellin versus $2,039 in Bourges, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Bourges. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Bourges?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,014 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Bourges?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Bourges are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 101% less than in Bourges. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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