Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Graz

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,589 a month against $2,204 in Graz, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Graz
🇦🇹 Austria
$2,204
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Graz

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

A single person spends $1,589 per month in Medellin vs $2,204 in Graz, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,589
  • Graz $2,204

A couple spends around $2,364 per month in Medellin vs $3,268 in Graz, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,364
  • Graz $3,268

A family of three spends $3,139 per month in Medellin vs $4,332 in Graz, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,139
  • Graz $4,332

Medellin is about 28% cheaper than Graz, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Medellin and Graz sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Graz by 64%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Graz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01 COP 25.5K
$16.76 €14.96
-52.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55 COP 148.3K
$59.5 €53.1
-21.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 COP 30.1K
$13.66 €12.19
-30.97%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,277
$4.32 €3.86
-32.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 COP 5,585
$3.94 €3.52
-55.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 COP 4,218
$2.77 €2.47
-52.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 COP 9,969
$5.76 €5.14
-45.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 COP 17.7K
$5.51 €4.91
0.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Graz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 COP 4,495
$1.78 €1.59
-20.79%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 COP 7,777
$2.86 €2.55
-14.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,191
$2.83 €2.53
-42.40%
Eggs
$2.82 COP 8,990
$5.03 €4.49
-43.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 COP 30.9K
$24.53 €21.89
-60.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.32 COP 29.7K
$15.10 €13.48
-38.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 COP 42.9K
$23.42 €20.90
-42.53%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 COP 12.8K
$2.92 €2.60
36.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 COP 4,719
$2.47 €2.20
-40.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 COP 6,768
$3.11 €2.78
-31.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,178
$3.71 €3.31
-39.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 COP 6,092
$1.97 €1.76
-3.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 COP 5,160
$2.05 €1.83
-20.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,658
$1.94 €1.74
-40.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 COP 4,021
$0.95 €0.85
32.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82 COP 12.2K
$7.89 €7.04
-51.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.11 COP 41.8K
$9.17 €8.19
42.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 5,083
$1.58 €1.41
1.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,188
$2.27 €2.03
-0.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Graz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,731
$3.64 €3.25
-67.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.0 COP 239.0K
$75.3 €67.2
-0.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,056
$5.39 €4.81
-76.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,531
$2.64 €2.36
-22.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 COP 26.1K
$35.10 €31.33
-76.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 COP 4,046
$1.99 €1.78
-36.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K COP 85.3M
$29.9K €26.7K
-10.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K COP 109.6M
$27.8K €24.8K
23.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Graz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 COP 516.9K
$376 €336
-56.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 COP 41.8K
$13.76 €12.28
-4.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09 COP 89.5K
$35.59 €31.76
-21.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Graz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.33 COP 141.2K
$38.86 €34.68
14.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 COP 52.0K
$21.97 €19.61
-25.67%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 COP 19.4K
$13.34 €11.91
-54.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Graz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$764 COP 2.4M
$519 €463
47.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,904 COP 28.4M
$5,618 €5,013
58.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Graz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 COP 270.8K
$105 €94.1
-19.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 COP 183.2K
$42.03 €37.50
36.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 COP 419.8K
$113 €101
16.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 COP 305.1K
$168 €150
-43.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Graz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$831 €742
23.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 COP 1.9M
$689 €615
-12.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 COP 5.7M
$1,452 €1,296
24.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$993 COP 3.2M
$1,164 €1,039
-14.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,921 COP 12.5M
$5,864 €5,233
-33.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,639 COP 5.2M
$3,250 €2,900
-49.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Graz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$626 COP 2.0M
$3,155 €2,815
-80.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.58
205.59%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026

Last update for Graz: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$604
Graz
$689 13.9% $84
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$288
Graz
$418 44.8% $129
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$203
Graz
$426 109% $222
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$166
Graz
$193 15.8% $26
Eating Out
Medellin
$166
Graz
$294 76.5% $127
Getting Around
Medellin
$91
Graz
$108 18.9% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Graz
$66 16% $9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 in Medellin versus $831 in Graz. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 404% higher in Graz, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Medellin versus $59.0 in Graz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $418 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇦🇹 Graz
🕒 Local time
04:41 4:41 AM
11:41 11:41 AM
7 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
331,359
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3,187 COP (10,000 COP = 3.14 USD). 1 EUR = 3,571 COP (10,000 COP = 2.8 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Graz 9,580 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Graz

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 Graz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Graz cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Graz is pricier by about 39%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,384 per month in Medellin and $3,306 in Graz. 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 Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Graz?
Groceries cost about 45% more in Graz, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Graz?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Medellin and $59.0 in Graz. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Graz?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,589, than in Graz at $2,204. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Graz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Graz more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – 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 Graz?
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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Graz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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