πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,769 in Lleida.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $2,337 in Lleida.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $2,905 in Lleida.
πLiving in Medellin costs roughly 42% less than in Lleida, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Lleida is 32% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Lleida
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
$15.19β¬13.01
-61.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
$57.8β¬49.49
-43.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
$8.83β¬7.56
-18.46%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
$2.05β¬1.76
-17.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
$2.06β¬1.76
-46.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
$1.82β¬1.56
-60.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
$2.91β¬2.49
-42.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
$3.45β¬2.96
-10.14%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lleida
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
$1.12β¬0.96
-5.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
$0.85β¬0.73
47.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
$1.29β¬1.11
7.75%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
$2.09β¬1.79
8.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
$11.47β¬9.82
-62.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
$8.78β¬7.51
-33.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
$13.92β¬11.92
-36.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
$2.16β¬1.85
3.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
$1.87β¬1.60
-42.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
$2.00β¬1.71
-23.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
$2.46β¬2.10
-44.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
$1.51β¬1.29
-25.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
$1.83β¬1.56
-38.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
$1.55β¬1.32
-45.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
$0.65β¬0.55
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
$6.46β¬5.53
-63.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
$4.56β¬3.91
144.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
$0.52β¬0.44
128.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
$2.00β¬1.71
18.50%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Lleida
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
$1.41β¬1.21
-43.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
$46.41β¬39.73
-11.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
$3.42β¬2.93
-57.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
$1.19β¬1.02
60.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
$24.68β¬21.12
-67.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
$1.74β¬1.49
-45.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
$32.3Kβ¬27.7K
-44.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
$30.4Kβ¬26.0K
-11.86%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lleida
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
$138β¬118
-39.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
$13.63β¬11.67
-29.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
$30.25β¬25.89
-20.13%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lleida
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
$57.2β¬48.95
-54.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
$13.92β¬11.91
36.78%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
$10.02β¬8.58
-60.88%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lleida
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$235β¬201
30.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
$5,022β¬4,298
17.86%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lleida
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
$90.1β¬77.1
-35.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
$31.23β¬26.73
1.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
$93.2β¬79.8
7.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 386.8K
$51.4β¬44.03
108.28%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lleida
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$690β¬590
-29.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$853β¬730
-56.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$1,088β¬931
-24.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$938β¬803
-23.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
$1,744β¬1,493
-19.34%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lleida
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
$1,768β¬1,514
-69.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
3.23
315.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Lleida: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $690 in Lleida. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Lleida pays 224% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $58.0 in Lleida for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $233 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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 Lleida: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Lleida?
Medellin wins on cost β living expenses run 71% lower than in Lleida. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Lleida?
On paper, Lleida earns 224% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Lleida?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $690 in Lleida. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Medellin vs Lleida?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 13% less than in Lleida. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and Lleida?
Childcare runs $306 in Medellin versus $235 in Lleida. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Lleida?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,769 in Lleida, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Lleida. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Lleida?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,034 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Lleida?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Lleida are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet β expenses run 71% less than in Lleida. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.