Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Funchal

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,614 a month against $2,099 in Funchal, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Funchal outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Funchal
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,099
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Funchal

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 Funchal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,614 in Medellin versus $2,099 in Funchal.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Funchal $2,099

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,402 in Medellin versus $3,058 in Funchal.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Funchal $3,058

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,190 in Medellin versus $4,017 in Funchal.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Funchal $4,017

Living in Medellin costs roughly 23% less than in Funchal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 20% above, Funchal 56% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Funchal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$14.90 €13.25
-46.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.3K
$64.8 €57.6
-28.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$13.51 €12.02
-29.68%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,866
$2.00 €1.78
55.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,800
$1.64 €1.46
11.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,360
$1.39 €1.24
-0.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,672
$2.87 €2.55
6.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$3.87 €3.44
42.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Funchal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,600
$1.05 €0.93
38.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,496
$1.72 €1.53
37.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,328
$1.69 €1.50
-0.59%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,077
$3.96 €3.52
-27.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$10.34 €9.20
-1.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$7.36 €6.55
29.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
$11.82 €10.52
18.78%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$1.73 €1.54
135.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,742
$1.82 €1.62
-17.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,891
$1.73 €1.54
25.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,310
$2.51 €2.24
-7.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,113
$1.86 €1.65
3.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,196
$1.96 €1.75
-16.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,571
$1.69 €1.50
-33.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,954
$0.80 €0.71
56.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$5.60 €4.98
-28.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$6.58 €5.85
102.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,384
$1.26 €1.12
34.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,525
$2.46 €2.19
-3.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Funchal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,827
$2.17 €1.93
-44.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.5K
$34.10 €30.33
124.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,179
$3.82 €3.40
-65.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,774
$1.38 €1.22
55.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$18.88 €16.79
-55.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,114
$2.03 €1.80
-35.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$34.0K €30.2K
-17.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.3M
$38.0K €33.8K
-6.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Funchal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.6K
$123 €109
40.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$17.20 €15.30
-22.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.1K
$49.15 €43.72
-41.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Funchal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.5K
$41.59 €36.99
8.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
$8.56 €7.61
99.07%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$8.48 €7.54
-25.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Funchal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$419 €372
83.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
$8,353 €7,430
7.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Funchal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.0K
$61.7 €54.9
39.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.1K
$32.72 €29.10
74.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.9K
$88.8 €79.0
53.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.4K
$74.3 €66.1
31.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Funchal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
$1,471 €1,309
-28.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$1,222 €1,087
-49.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$2,490 €2,215
-24.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
$1,981 €1,762
-48.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
$4,739 €4,215
-14.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
$3,237 €2,880
-48.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Funchal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$1,457 €1,296
-55.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.59
204.74%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Funchal: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Funchal
$1.2K 98.4% $606
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Funchal
$243 17.6% $52
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Funchal
$189 11.6% $25
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Funchal
$116 31.9% $54
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Funchal
$218 29.4% $49
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Funchal
$53 42.7% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Funchal
$59 1.3% $0.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,055 in Medellin and $1,471 in Funchal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Funchal pays 123% 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: $46.00 in Medellin vs $65.0 in Funchal. Groceries flip the comparison at $295 vs $243, with Funchal cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇵🇹 Funchal
🕒 Local time
19:16 7:16 PM
01:16 1:16 AM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
105,795
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Funchal 6,720 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Funchal

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 Funchal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Funchal?
Medellin and Funchal differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($1,614 vs $2,099 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 123% lower in Funchal. 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 Funchal?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,055 in Medellin versus $1,471 in Funchal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Funchal?
All in, you'll spend $1,614 per month in Medellin versus $2,099 in Funchal – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Funchal?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 124% less than in Funchal. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,614 in Medellin versus $2,099 in Funchal, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Funchal. 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 Funchal?
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 Funchal safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Funchal 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 Funchal?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Funchal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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