😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,596 in Costa da Caparica.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $2,381 in Costa da Caparica.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $3,165 in Costa da Caparica.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 5% more expensive than in Costa da Caparica, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin23% above, Costa da Caparica17% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$11.47€10.00
-30.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$46.17€40.25
3.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$9.06€7.90
9.16%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$2.16€1.88
44.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$1.85€1.61
3.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$1.37€1.19
10.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$2.30€2.00
35.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$3.51€3.06
63.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.06€0.93
35.85%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$1.60€1.40
55.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$1.66€1.45
6.63%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$3.13€2.73
-5.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$11.21€9.77
-10.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$7.77€6.77
30.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$13.92€12.13
2.73%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$2.28€1.98
81.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$1.49€1.30
8.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$1.78€1.55
26.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$2.50€2.18
-10.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$1.45€1.27
40.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$1.91€1.66
-19.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$1.54€1.35
-24.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.85€0.74
54.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$6.10€5.31
-36.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$5.34€4.66
162.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.30€1.13
33.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$2.37€2.06
21.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$2.25€1.96
-45.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$42.23€36.81
90.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$4.14€3.61
-68.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$0.86€0.75
154.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$17.19€14.98
-49.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$1.97€1.72
-30.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$35.0K€30.5K
-20.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$39.9K€34.8K
-10.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$133€116
33.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$20.99€18.30
-33.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$41.54€36.21
-28.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$44.08€38.42
1.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$15.19€13.24
12.71%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$8.59€7.49
-22.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$459€400
77.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$8,399€7,321
9.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$72.6€63.2
23.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$39.16€34.13
50.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$93.8€81.7
47.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$92.7€80.8
10.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$917€799
15.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$719€627
-7.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$1,451€1,265
30.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$1,148€1,000
-10.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$2,983€2,601
40.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$2,288€1,995
-26.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
5.01
118.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Costa da Caparica: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $917 in Costa da Caparica. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $46.00 in Costa da Caparica for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $246 per month, with Costa da Caparica 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 Costa da Caparica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Costa da Caparica?
Medellin and Costa da Caparica differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($1,681 vs $1,596 including rent). Costa da Caparica is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Costa da Caparica?
You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $2,394 in Costa da Caparica to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Costa da Caparica?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $917 in Costa da Caparica. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Costa da Caparica – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Costa da Caparica?
All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $1,596 in Costa da Caparica – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,596 in Costa da Caparica versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Costa da Caparica but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Costa da Caparica the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Costa da Caparica?
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.
Is Medellin or Costa da Caparica safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Costa da Caparica are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Costa da Caparica?
Expats usually find Costa da Caparica gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.