Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cantù

For one person, living costs are similar in Medellin and in Cantù: $1,639 and $1,667 a month, rent and utilities included.

Medellin, Colombia
Cantù, Italy
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Cantù
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,667
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Cantù

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Cantù actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,639 in Medellin versus $1,667 in Cantù.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Cantù $1,667

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,413 in Medellin versus $2,668 in Cantù.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Cantù $2,668

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,186 in Medellin versus $3,670 in Cantù.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Cantù $3,670

Monthly costs are close between Medellin and Cantù; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 20% above, Cantù 22% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cantù
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$22.30 €19.99
-63.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.9K
$90.8 €81.4
-48.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.7K
$11.09 €9.94
-14.34%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,735
$1.80 €1.61
67.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,809
$2.91 €2.61
-38.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,561
$1.71 €1.53
-17.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.3K
$5.62 €5.04
-43.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.6K
$6.17 €5.53
-6.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cantù
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,876
$1.39 €1.25
8.63%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,678
$2.25 €2.02
5.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,720
$3.58 €3.21
-50.56%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,333
$3.98 €3.57
-27.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$15.19 €13.61
-32.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.9K
$12.84 €11.50
-23.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.2K
$18.22 €16.32
-23.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$2.84 €2.54
39.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,012
$1.62 €1.45
-4.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,048
$3.07 €2.75
-28.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,051
$2.35 €2.11
-7.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,337
$1.89 €1.69
3.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,132
$1.82 €1.63
-12.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,699
$1.66 €1.48
-30.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,014
$0.60 €0.54
106.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
$6.62 €5.93
-40.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.2K
$5.53 €4.96
147.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,359
$0.87 €0.78
90.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,291
$1.66 €1.48
36.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cantù
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,771
$1.77 €1.59
-33.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.8K
$46.47 €41.64
66.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,094
$5.75 €5.15
-77.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,612
$2.29 €2.05
-10.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
$38.40 €34.41
-77.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,349
$2.01 €1.81
-32.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.0M
$35.8K €32.0K
-4.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.9M
$35.0K €31.4K
-1.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cantù
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.8K
$194 €174
-12.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.8K
$12.72 €11.40
6.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.6K
$27.58 €24.72
1.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cantù
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 141.1K
$54.8 €49.14
-20.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.5K
$24.80 €22.23
-30.69%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
$11.66 €10.45
-40.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cantù
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$719 €645
10.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
$7,047 €6,314
29.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cantù
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.5K
$88.5 €79.3
-4.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 187.2K
$43.93 €39.37
31.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.8K
$109 €97.6
23.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 316.0K
$129 €116
-24.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cantù
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$657 €589
83.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$504 €451
27.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$1,080 €968
87.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$910 €816
11.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.5M
$3,348 €3,000
24.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
$2,237 €2,004
-14.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cantù
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$2,753 €2,467
-76.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.65
199.73%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Cantù: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Cantù
$504 21.5% $138
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Cantù
$321 8.1% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Cantù
$235 11% $23
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Cantù
$292 72.3% $123
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Cantù
$167 1.4% $2.3
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Cantù
$71 24.4% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Cantù
$78 35.8% $21

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,208 in Medellin and $657 in Cantù. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cantù pays about 4.2 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $47 in Medellin vs $91 in Cantù for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $321 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇮🇹 Cantù
🕒 Local time
03:03 3:03 AM
09:03 9:03 AM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
35,153
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,603 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Cantù 9,100 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Cantù

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Cantù: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 76% lower in Medellin. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Cantù?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,208 in Medellin versus $657 in Cantù. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Cantù?
A monthly transit pass in Cantù runs roughly 40% less than in Medellin. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Cantù. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How far does $2,500 go in Medellin compared to Cantù?
Either city works on $2,500 a month, though Medellin gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Cantù?
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.
How do I decide between Medellin and Cantù?
It comes down to priorities – Medellin wins on affordability, Cantù on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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