Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $1,598 in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $2,348 in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $3,098 in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, rent included.

Medellin costs about 7% more than Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands by 16%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.1K
$14.95 €12.86
-46.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 150.8K
$57.7 €49.64
-16.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.5K
$10.36 €8.92
-5.69%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,095
$2.16 €1.86
34.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,074
$2.41 €2.07
-19.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,754
$1.76 €1.51
-13.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,663
$3.41 €2.93
-9.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 17.9K
$3.51 €3.02
63.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,262
$1.15 €0.99
18.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,460
$1.42 €1.22
68.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,314
$1.65 €1.42
3.03%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 8,967
$2.89 €2.49
-0.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.1K
$13.70 €11.79
-27.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.7K
$8.15 €7.01
32.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.0K
$15.01 €12.92
-1.87%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$2.45 €2.11
66.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,911
$2.00 €1.72
-21.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,642
$2.00 €1.72
6.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,917
$2.68 €2.31
-17.54%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,396
$1.76 €1.52
16.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,700
$2.01 €1.73
-25.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,718
$1.33 €1.15
-10.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,619
$0.75 €0.65
54.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$6.45 €5.55
-39.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.1K
$5.78 €4.97
149.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,948
$1.25 €1.07
26.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,836
$2.13 €1.83
32.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,650
$1.67 €1.44
-29.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 242.9K
$34.30 €29.52
126.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,014
$3.96 €3.41
-67.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,537
$1.21 €1.04
72.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 26.9K
$24.90 €21.43
-65.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,056
$1.79 €1.54
-27.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.4M
$38.2K €32.9K
-27.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 110.9M
$30.4K €26.1K
16.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 550.1K
$135 €116
30.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 41.8K
$20.91 €18.00
-36.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 93.4K
$31.41 €27.03
-4.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 139.8K
$47.42 €40.80
-5.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.3K
$15.10 €12.99
12.98%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.4K
$9.20 €7.92
-32.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$399 €344
98.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.2M
$8,086 €6,958
11.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 267.5K
$85.9 €73.9
-0.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 182.7K
$34.61 €29.78
68.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 425.9K
$89.5 €77.0
52.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 322.2K
$110 €94.7
-6.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$842 €724
25.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$702 €604
-3.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$1,307 €1,125
53.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$1,013 €871
15.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.8M
$3,284 €2,826
25.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$2,306 €1,984
-26.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.5
212.57%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Gran Canaria, Canary Islands: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $842 in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $58.0 in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. Groceries tell a different story – $303 in Medellin vs $262 in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands – so Gran Canaria, Canary Islands wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Gran Canaria, Canary Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gran Canaria, Canary Islands cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $2,397 in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $793 per month in Medellin and $399 in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, where all-in costs run around $1,598, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Gran Canaria, Canary Islands it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Gran Canaria, Canary Islands more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Gran Canaria, Canary Islands – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Gran Canaria, Canary Islands?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities