Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living costs are similar in Medellin and in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands: $1,625 and $1,610 a month, rent and utilities included.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
🇪🇸 Spain
$1,610
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

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 Gran Canaria, Canary Islands actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,625 per month in Medellin vs $1,610 in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,625
  • Gran Canaria, Canary Islands $1,610

A couple spends around $2,412 per month in Medellin vs $2,368 in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,412
  • Gran Canaria, Canary Islands $2,368

A family of three spends $3,199 per month in Medellin vs $3,126 in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,199
  • Gran Canaria, Canary Islands $3,126

Medellin costs about 1% more than Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Gran Canaria, Canary Islands sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands by 19%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.30 COP 26.3K
$14.81 €13.18
-43.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.91 COP 148.7K
$57.1 €50.8
-17.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 COP 29.3K
$10.31 €9.17
-10.38%
Cappuccino
$3.05 COP 9,676
$2.17 €1.93
40.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,707
$2.39 €2.12
-24.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,382
$1.70 €1.51
-18.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 COP 10.3K
$3.40 €3.03
-4.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 COP 17.6K
$3.41 €3.04
63.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 COP 4,760
$1.19 €1.06
26.05%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 COP 7,508
$1.36 €1.21
74.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,377
$1.67 €1.48
1.80%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,379
$2.89 €2.57
2.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.22 COP 32.4K
$13.52 €12.03
-24.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 COP 30.9K
$8.22 €7.31
18.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.90 COP 44.1K
$15.10 €13.43
-7.95%
Apples (1kg)
$4.13 COP 13.1K
$2.51 €2.23
64.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,839
$1.96 €1.74
-21.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 COP 7,052
$1.97 €1.75
12.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 COP 7,194
$2.59 €2.30
-12.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 COP 6,311
$1.73 €1.54
15.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 COP 5,285
$2.02 €1.80
-17.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 COP 3,742
$1.33 €1.18
-11.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,919
$0.70 €0.62
77.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87 COP 12.3K
$6.46 €5.75
-40.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.78 COP 43.7K
$5.73 €5.10
140.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,256
$1.20 €1.07
38.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 COP 7,615
$2.05 €1.83
17.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 COP 3,944
$1.69 €1.50
-26.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.2 COP 248.0K
$33.64 €29.92
132.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,044
$4.09 €3.64
-68.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 COP 6,803
$1.26 €1.12
70.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.37 COP 26.5K
$25.03 €22.26
-66.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,288
$1.76 €1.57
-23.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K COP 110.2M
$38.3K €34.1K
-9.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 110.0M
$30.3K €27.0K
14.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 COP 528.4K
$135 €120
23.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.62 COP 43.2K
$20.74 €18.45
-34.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.12 COP 92.3K
$30.89 €27.48
-5.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.09 COP 143.0K
$47.30 €42.08
-4.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.18 COP 54.5K
$15.03 €13.37
14.30%
Cinema Ticket
$6.97 COP 22.1K
$9.02 €8.03
-22.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.5M
$413 €367
91.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,041 COP 28.7M
$8,267 €7,353
9.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8 COP 278.4K
$84.1 €74.8
4.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2 COP 184.4K
$34.68 €30.84
67.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 440.7K
$87.4 €77.8
58.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 COP 313.5K
$107 €95.5
-7.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$853 €758
20.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 COP 2.0M
$690 €614
-10.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,881 COP 6.0M
$1,305 €1,161
44.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 COP 3.2M
$1,016 €903
-0.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,988 COP 12.6M
$3,320 €2,953
20.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,702 COP 5.4M
$2,366 €2,105
-28.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 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: October 19, 2026

Last update for Gran Canaria, Canary Islands: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$619
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
$690 11.4% $71
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$298
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
$260 12.6% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$209
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
$186 11.1% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$173
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
$141 18.3% $32
Eating Out
Medellin
$171
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
$216 26.2% $45
Getting Around
Medellin
$95
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
$51 46.7% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$59
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
$65 10.7% $6.3

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 in Medellin versus $853 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 $47.00 in Medellin versus $57.0 in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Medellin vs $260 in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands – so Gran Canaria, Canary Islands wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇪🇸 Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
🕒 Local time
21:20 9:20 PM
03:20 3:20 AM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
862,893
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 24, 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 24, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Gran Canaria, Canary Islands 6,750 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

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 Gran Canaria, Canary Islands: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gran Canaria, Canary Islands cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 1%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,437 per month in Medellin and $2,414 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 $790 per month in Medellin and $413 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 14% 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 $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, where all-in costs run around $1,610, than in Medellin at $1,625. 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.

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