😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,385 in Ourense, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $2,025 in Ourense, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,665 in Ourense, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 21% more than Ourense, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Ourense sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Ourense by 1%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ourense
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$14.00€12.20
-42.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$52.0€45.34
-7.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$9.60€8.37
3.02%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$1.82€1.58
71.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$2.67€2.32
-28.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$1.67€1.45
-9.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$3.70€3.22
-15.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$3.65€3.18
57.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ourense
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.20€1.05
20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$1.20€1.05
107.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$1.38€1.20
28.26%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$3.34€2.91
-11.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$10.80€9.41
-6.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$7.86€6.85
28.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$14.72€12.83
-2.85%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$2.25€1.96
84.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$2.19€1.91
-26.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$1.64€1.43
37.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$2.25€1.97
-
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$1.76€1.53
15.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$1.96€1.71
-21.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$1.09€0.95
7.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.52€0.46
151.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$6.09€5.31
-35.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$5.78€5.04
142.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.28€1.12
35.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$2.25€1.96
27.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ourense
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$0.94€0.82
29.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$29.30€25.54
174.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$4.67€4.07
-71.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$1.14€0.99
92.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$19.36€16.88
-55.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$1.69€1.48
-18.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$24.6K€21.5K
12.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$28.5K€24.9K
25.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ourense
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$109€94.9
62.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$20.48€17.85
-32.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$28.64€24.97
3.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ourense
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$41.71€36.36
7.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$13.47€11.75
27.10%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$8.47€7.38
-21.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ourense
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$358€312
127.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$8,576€7,476
7.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ourense
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$103€89.4
-12.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$38.17€33.27
54.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$84.2€73.4
64.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$83.6€72.9
22.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ourense
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$680€593
56.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$545€475
21.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$860€749
119.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$717€625
43.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$3,330€2,902
25.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$2,234€1,947
-25.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ourense
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$1,649€1,437
-58.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
2.96
269.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Ourense: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $680 in Ourense. 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 143% higher in Ourense, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $52.0 in Ourense. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $243 in Ourense – so Ourense 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 Ourense: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ourense cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $2,078 in Ourense. 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 Ourense, 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 Ourense?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $52.0 in Ourense. 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 Ourense?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $1,385 in Ourense. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Ourense?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ourense, where all-in costs run around $1,385, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Ourense it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Ourense more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ourense – 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 Ourense?
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 Ourense. 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.