🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,634 in Costa da Caparica.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $2,390 in Costa da Caparica.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $3,146 in Costa da Caparica.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 37% less than in Costa da Caparica, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Costa da Caparica is 22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$11.73€10.27
-47.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$45.60€39.93
-28.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$9.06€7.94
-18.98%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$2.08€1.82
-17.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$1.86€1.63
-43.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$1.41€1.23
-45.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$2.33€2.04
-27.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$3.38€2.96
-6.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.10€0.96
-4.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$1.58€1.39
-17.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.66€1.46
-15.66%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$3.14€2.75
-31.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$11.15€9.77
-60.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$7.92€6.93
-25.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$14.09€12.34
-38.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$2.29€2.01
-0.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.48€1.30
-25.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.81€1.58
-15.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$2.60€2.28
-48.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$1.53€1.34
-26.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$1.94€1.70
-41.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$1.61€1.41
-47.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.85€0.74
7.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$6.25€5.48
-62.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$5.27€4.61
134.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.24€1.09
-3.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$2.27€1.99
9.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$2.26€1.98
-62.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$41.69€36.51
-2.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$4.21€3.68
-66.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.80€0.70
140.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$17.50€15.32
-56.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.92€1.68
-48.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$35.1K€30.7K
-48.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$38.8K€34.0K
-31.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$135€118
-40.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$20.99€18.38
-52.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$41.73€36.54
-42.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$43.31€37.93
-42.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$8.41€7.36
-52.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$459€402
-33.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$8,270€7,243
-26.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$72.4€63.4
-19.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$39.06€34.21
-17.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$90.6€79.3
11.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$93.7€82.1
14.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$920€806
-48.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$731€640
-48.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$1,458€1,277
-42.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$1,159€1,015
-36.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$3,052€2,673
5.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$2,324€2,035
-40.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Costa da Caparica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5.01
168.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Costa da Caparica: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $920 in Costa da Caparica. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $46.00 in Costa da Caparica for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $248 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 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 58% in total monthly costs ($1,031 vs $1,634 including rent). Medellin 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 $1,546 in Medellin and $2,450 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: $477 in Medellin versus $920 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 Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $46.00 in Costa da Caparica. 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 $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $1,634 in Costa da Caparica – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,634 in Costa da Caparica, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Costa da Caparica. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin 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 Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Costa da Caparica. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.