🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $2,047 in Bourges.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $3,111 in Bourges.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $4,176 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 23% below, Bourges is 53% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$17.31€15.16
-64.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$74.0€64.8
-55.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$12.84€11.24
-42.83%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$3.85€3.37
-55.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$2.84€2.49
-63.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$1.78€1.56
-56.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$8.29€7.26
-79.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$6.86€6.01
-53.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.53€1.34
-31.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$2.61€2.29
-50.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$2.59€2.27
-45.95%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$4.20€3.68
-48.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$25.05€21.94
-82.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$16.09€14.09
-63.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$26.21€22.95
-67.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$2.71€2.38
-15.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$2.61€2.29
-57.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$3.49€3.06
-56.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$3.87€3.39
-65.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$2.89€2.53
-60.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$2.83€2.48
-60.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$1.46€1.28
-41.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.87€0.76
4.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$14.15€12.39
-83.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$7.89€6.91
56.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$3.23€2.83
-62.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$3.09€2.70
-19.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$2.00€1.76
-58.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$48.20€42.21
-15.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$5.66€4.95
-74.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$1.83€1.60
4.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$57.6€50.5
-86.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$2.11€1.85
-53.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$37.0K€32.4K
-51.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$36.6K€32.1K
-27.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$278€244
-70.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$22.21€19.45
-55.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$37.67€32.99
-35.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$37.40€32.76
-32.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$18.30€16.02
4.64%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$14.04€12.29
-71.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$290€254
5.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$12.0K€10.5K
-49.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$111€96.8
-47.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$50.7€44.41
-36.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$122€107
-17.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$167€147
-35.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$779€682
-38.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$622€544
-39.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$1,201€1,052
-29.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$1,092€957
-33.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$1,029€901
33.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bourges
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$2,867€2,511
-78.48%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Bourges: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $779 in Bourges. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bourges pays 365% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $74.0 in Bourges for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $434 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 99% 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 in Bourges?
On paper, salaries run 365% lower in Bourges. 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 compared to Bourges?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $779 in Bourges. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in 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 $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $2,047 in Bourges – a 99% 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 in Bourges?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $2,047 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 $1,031 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 99% less than in Bourges. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.