😐A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $1,606 in Perpignan, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $2,490 in Perpignan, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $3,374 in Perpignan, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 2% more than Perpignan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Perpignan sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Perpignan by 16%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Perpignan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.9K
$17.75€15.25
-54.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 149.7K
$77.0€66.2
-37.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.2K
$14.04€12.07
-32.91%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,105
$3.06€2.63
-3.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,776
$3.69€3.17
-49.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,511
$2.06€1.77
-29.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,953
$6.78€5.83
-52.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.7K
$4.66€4.00
22.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Perpignan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,460
$1.29€1.11
11.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,442
$2.16€1.86
11.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,265
$3.07€2.64
-44.63%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,960
$3.96€3.41
-27.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 31.2K
$12.33€10.60
-18.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.9K
$11.28€9.69
-11.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 44.0K
$18.53€15.93
-23.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$3.15€2.71
26.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,913
$1.76€1.51
-10.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,671
$2.79€2.40
-22.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,129
$1.54€1.32
49.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,213
$2.04€1.75
-1.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,679
$2.66€2.29
-43.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,727
$1.68€1.44
-28.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,974
$0.53€0.46
141.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.9K
$13.93€11.97
-72.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.4K
$5.82€5.00
140.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,294
$1.50€1.29
14.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,500
$1.35€1.16
102.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Perpignan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,861
$1.48€1.28
-15.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 241.5K
$37.92€32.59
105.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,045
$5.77€4.96
-77.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,728
$3.57€3.07
-39.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.7K
$28.84€24.78
-71.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,202
$2.01€1.73
-32.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 85.2M
$36.3K€31.2K
-24.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 113.2M
$36.2K€31.1K
1.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Perpignan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 523.0K
$188€162
-10.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 42.1K
$18.57€15.96
-26.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.8K
$25.78€22.15
9.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Perpignan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 141.7K
$28.06€24.12
62.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.4K
$13.45€11.56
28.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.6K
$11.78€10.12
-43.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Perpignan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$355€305
126.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.5M
$7,090€6,093
29.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Perpignan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 270.8K
$89.6€77.0
-2.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 184.0K
$48.04€41.28
23.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 430.5K
$114€97.8
22.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 316.3K
$131€113
-22.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Perpignan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$607€521
76.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$502€431
30.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 6.0M
$906€778
112.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$834€717
25.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.8M
$4,371€3,756
-5.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.3M
$2,413€2,074
-29.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Perpignan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$2,478€2,129
-73.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.89
181.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Perpignan: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $607 in Perpignan. 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 278% higher in Perpignan, 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 $77.0 in Perpignan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $303 – 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 Perpignan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Perpignan cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 2%, 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $2,409 in Perpignan. 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 Perpignan, 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 Perpignan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $77.0 in Perpignan. 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 Perpignan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $1,606 in Perpignan. 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 Perpignan?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Perpignan, where all-in costs run around $1,606, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Perpignan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Perpignan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Perpignan – 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 Perpignan?
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 Perpignan. 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.