Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Montecatini Terme Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Montecatini Terme

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $1,835 in Montecatini Terme, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $2,851 in Montecatini Terme, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $3,868 in Montecatini Terme, rent included.

Medellin is about 6% cheaper than Montecatini Terme, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Montecatini Terme sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Montecatini Terme by 34%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.2K
$22.97 €19.75
-65.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 151.7K
$94.3 €81.1
-48.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.7K
$14.07 €12.09
-30.56%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,149
$1.98 €1.71
46.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,110
$3.09 €2.66
-37.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,783
$1.69 €1.45
-10.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,721
$7.14 €6.14
-56.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 18.1K
$5.87 €5.05
-2.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,287
$1.56 €1.34
-12.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,505
$2.62 €2.25
-8.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,346
$1.70 €1.46
-
Eggs
$2.87 COP 9,021
$5.26 €4.52
-45.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.2K
$20.69 €17.79
-51.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.9K
$14.59 €12.55
-26.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.3K
$22.44 €19.29
-34.36%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$2.68 €2.30
52.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,940
$2.62 €2.25
-40.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,682
$3.33 €2.87
-36.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,959
$3.15 €2.71
-29.84%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,435
$2.54 €2.19
-19.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,728
$1.78 €1.53
-15.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,740
$1.48 €1.27
-19.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,640
$0.70 €0.60
65.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$6.83 €5.87
-42.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.4K
$9.09 €7.82
58.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,978
$1.61 €1.38
-1.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,889
$2.65 €2.28
6.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Montecatini Terme
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,672
$1.91 €1.64
-38.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 244.3K
$47.12 €40.51
64.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,038
$6.79 €5.83
-81.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,576
$1.51 €1.29
38.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 27.1K
$33.49 €28.80
-74.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,080
$2.14 €1.84
-39.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.9M
$37.7K €32.4K
-26.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 111.6M
$36.8K €31.6K
-3.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 553.4K
$198 €171
-11.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.0K
$13.93 €11.98
-4.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 94.0K
$31.80 €27.33
-6.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 140.7K
$51.1 €43.96
-12.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.6K
$26.35 €22.65
-35.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.5K
$11.56 €9.94
-46.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$585 €503
35.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.4M
$15.6K €13.4K
-42.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 269.1K
$89.5 €76.9
-4.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 183.8K
$44.27 €38.06
32.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 428.4K
$102 €87.5
33.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 324.1K
$112 €96.1
-7.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Montecatini Terme
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$731 €628
44.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$556 €478
22.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$1,061 €912
89.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$968 €832
20.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.9M
$3,480 €2,992
18.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$1,873 €1,610
-9.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.29
232.52%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Montecatini Terme: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $731 in Montecatini Terme. 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 $94.0 in Montecatini Terme. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $387 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Montecatini Terme: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montecatini Terme cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Montecatini Terme 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 $2,752 in Montecatini Terme. 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Montecatini Terme?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $94.0 in Montecatini Terme. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Montecatini Terme?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $1,835 in Montecatini Terme. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Montecatini Terme?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Montecatini Terme at $1,835. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montecatini Terme it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Montecatini Terme 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 Montecatini Terme?
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, Montecatini Terme makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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