Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Gela

For one person, living is cheaper in Gela: $1,232 a month against $1,625 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $4,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Gela
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,232
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Gela

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,625 in Medellin versus $1,232 in Gela.

  • Medellin $1,625
  • Gela $1,232

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,412 in Medellin versus $1,971 in Gela.

  • Medellin $2,412
  • Gela $1,971

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,199 in Medellin versus $2,709 in Gela.

  • Medellin $3,199
  • Gela $2,709

Living in Medellin is roughly 32% more expensive than in Gela, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 20% above, Gela is 9% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Gela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.30 COP 26.3K
$11.28 €10.03
-26.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.91 COP 148.7K
$56.5 €50.3
-16.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 COP 29.3K
$9.46 €8.41
-2.33%
Cappuccino
$3.05 COP 9,676
$1.74 €1.55
75.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,707
$2.35 €2.09
-23.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,382
$1.20 €1.07
15.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 COP 10.3K
$4.00 €3.56
-19.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 COP 17.6K
$3.98 €3.54
39.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Gela
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 COP 4,760
$1.31 €1.17
14.50%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 COP 7,508
$1.78 €1.58
33.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,377
$2.17 €1.93
-21.66%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,379
$2.91 €2.58
1.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.22 COP 32.4K
$14.92 €13.27
-31.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 COP 30.9K
$11.60 €10.32
-16.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.90 COP 44.1K
$16.79 €14.93
-17.21%
Apples (1kg)
$4.13 COP 13.1K
$2.92 €2.59
41.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,839
$2.21 €1.96
-30.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 COP 7,052
$2.06 €1.84
7.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 COP 7,194
$2.25 €2.00
0.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 COP 6,311
$1.62 €1.44
22.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 COP 5,285
$2.90 €2.58
-42.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 COP 3,742
$1.26 €1.12
-6.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,919
$0.42 €0.38
195.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87 COP 12.3K
$6.88 €6.12
-43.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.78 COP 43.7K
$7.51 €6.68
83.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,256
$2.06 €1.83
-19.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 COP 7,615
$2.22 €1.98
8.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Gela
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 COP 3,944
$1.43 €1.27
-13.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.2 COP 248.0K
$42.26 €37.59
85.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,044
$5.65 €5.03
-77.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 COP 6,803
$2.17 €1.93
-0.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.37 COP 26.5K
$32.85 €29.22
-74.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,288
$2.07 €1.84
-34.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K COP 110.2M
$35.7K €31.7K
-2.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 110.0M
$35.0K €31.2K
-1.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Gela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 COP 528.4K
$166 €148
0.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.62 COP 43.2K
$9.91 €8.82
37.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.12 COP 92.3K
$26.65 €23.70
9.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Gela
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.09 COP 143.0K
$51.1 €45.46
-11.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.18 COP 54.5K
$23.72 €21.10
-27.57%
Cinema Ticket
$6.97 COP 22.1K
$8.97 €7.98
-22.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Gela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.5M
$446 €397
77.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,041 COP 28.7M
$5,528 €4,917
63.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Gela
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8 COP 278.4K
$70.6 €62.8
24.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2 COP 184.4K
$30.84 €27.43
88.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 440.7K
$84.3 €75.0
64.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 COP 313.5K
$126 €112
-21.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Gela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$311 €277
230.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 COP 2.0M
$272 €242
128.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,881 COP 6.0M
$494 €439
280.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 COP 3.2M
$533 €474
89.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,988 COP 12.6M
$2,110 €1,877
89.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,702 COP 5.4M
$991 €882
71.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Gela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.39
222.71%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Last update for Gela: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$619
Gela
$272 56.2% $348
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$298
Gela
$302 1.4% $4.3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$209
Gela
$203 3.2% $6.8
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$173
Gela
$140 18.8% $32
Eating Out
Medellin
$171
Gela
$182 6.4% $11
Getting Around
Medellin
$95
Gela
$64 32.3% $31
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$59
Gela
$69 17% $10

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,028 in Medellin and $311 in Gela. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Medellin vs $57.0 in Gela for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $302 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇮🇹 Gela
🕒 Local time
05:38 5:38 AM
12:38 12:38 PM
7 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
70,735
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 23, 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 23, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Gela 9,570 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Gela

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 Gela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gela cheaper than Medellin?
Gela is cheaper overall, especially in clothing, transport, and utilities. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,437 in Medellin and $1,848 in Gela 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 Gela?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,028 in Medellin versus $311 in Gela. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $790 in Medellin versus $446 in Gela. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Gela?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Gela?
At $1,232 in Gela versus $1,625 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gela but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Gela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Gela more family-friendly?
For families, Gela is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Gela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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