🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,476 in Etten-Leur.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $3,807 in Etten-Leur.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $5,137 in Etten-Leur.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 32% less than in Etten-Leur, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin23% above, Etten-Leur81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Etten-Leur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.3K
$22.64€19.73
-64.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 151.0K
$98.9€86.1
-51.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.2K
$14.13€12.31
-30.01%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,873
$3.71€3.23
-15.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,019
$3.51€3.06
-45.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,763
$3.00€2.62
-49.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,853
$6.39€5.57
-51.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.1K
$5.49€4.79
4.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Etten-Leur
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,558
$1.37€1.20
5.11%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,843
$2.15€1.87
15.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,595
$2.59€2.26
-31.66%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,336
$4.95€4.31
-40.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.8K
$15.27€13.31
-34.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.9K
$14.63€12.75
-30.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.1K
$18.97€16.52
-24.62%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.0K
$2.83€2.47
46.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,073
$2.58€2.25
-37.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,083
$1.91€1.67
17.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,104
$5.95€5.18
-62.18%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,444
$2.08€1.81
-1.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,842
$2.20€1.92
-30.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,691
$1.35€1.18
-13.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,121
$0.74€0.65
77.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.3K
$14.19€12.36
-72.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.2K
$7.44€6.48
88.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,498
$1.50€1.31
16.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,053
$2.62€2.28
9.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Etten-Leur
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,834
$3.50€3.05
-65.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 253.9K
$94.0€81.9
-14.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,129
$3.48€3.03
-62.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,899
$1.72€1.50
27.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.5K
$23.43€20.41
-62.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,306
$2.42€2.11
-43.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
$43.6K€38.0K
-36.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
$39.4K€34.3K
-9.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Etten-Leur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 559.3K
$191€167
-7.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.8K
$27.94€24.34
-50.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 93.8K
$48.70€42.43
-38.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Etten-Leur
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 141.6K
$19.96€17.39
124.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.0K
$21.01€18.31
-18.51%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.0K
$15.39€13.41
-56.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Etten-Leur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$684€596
18.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.0M
$5,551€4,836
65.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Etten-Leur
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 282.3K
$89.2€77.7
0.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 186.0K
$51.5€44.86
14.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 435.9K
$93.2€81.2
48.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 322.1K
$145€126
-29.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Etten-Leur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$1,544€1,345
-31.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$1,366€1,190
-51.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$2,477€2,158
-23.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$1,926€1,678
-46.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.2M
$4,414€3,846
-5.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$4,647€4,048
-63.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Etten-Leur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.89
181.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Etten-Leur: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $1,544 in Etten-Leur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $99.0 in Etten-Leur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $361 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 Etten-Leur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Etten-Leur cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $3,714 in Etten-Leur 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.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Etten-Leur?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $1,544 in Etten-Leur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Etten-Leur?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $99.0 in Etten-Leur. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Etten-Leur?
All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $2,476 in Etten-Leur – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Etten-Leur?
At $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,476 in Etten-Leur, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Etten-Leur. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Etten-Leur more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Etten-Leur, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Etten-Leur?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Etten-Leur 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Etten-Leur. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.