Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Portmarnock Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Portmarnock

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $2,598 in Portmarnock, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $3,865 in Portmarnock, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $5,132 in Portmarnock, rent included.

Medellin is about 60% cheaper than Portmarnock, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Portmarnock is 94% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Portmarnock
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.5K
$23.48 €20.05
-74.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 119.1K
$106 €90.4
-69.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.2K
$10.22 €8.73
-29.55%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,186
$4.64 €3.96
-63.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,996
$2.33 €1.99
-52.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,625
$1.57 €1.34
-54.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,067
$7.03 €6.01
-76.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.3K
$6.55 €5.59
-52.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Portmarnock
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,837
$1.51 €1.29
-29.80%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,531
$2.16 €1.84
-42.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,060
$2.15 €1.84
-35.35%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,229
$3.99 €3.41
-43.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.8K
$11.69 €9.98
-62.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.2K
$10.46 €8.93
-44.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 32.1K
$13.98 €11.94
-36.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,159
$2.99 €2.55
-25.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,911
$2.01 €1.72
-46.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,563
$2.86 €2.44
-46.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,987
$3.55 €3.03
-61.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,109
$1.43 €1.22
-20.98%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,067
$1.40 €1.20
-20.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,080
$1.37 €1.17
-37.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,305
$2.02 €1.73
-54.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,477
$20.78 €17.74
-88.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.5K
$14.00 €11.96
-20.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,342
$4.53 €3.86
-73.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,617
$4.40 €3.75
-46.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Portmarnock
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,859
$2.40 €2.05
-67.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 149.6K
$99.6 €85.1
-58.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,223
$4.84 €4.13
-70.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,952
$1.33 €1.13
43.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 29.2K
$39.13 €33.42
-79.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,410
$1.99 €1.70
-52.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 65.2M
$41.9K €35.8K
-57.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 97.4M
$39.2K €33.5K
-31.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Portmarnock
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 305.4K
$281 €240
-70.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.9K
$21.90 €18.70
-56.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.9K
$54.9 €46.92
-56.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Portmarnock
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 94.1K
$52.3 €44.67
-50.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 69.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.2K
$13.87 €11.85
-71.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Portmarnock
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$1,045 €892
-70.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.5M
$8,104 €6,921
-26.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Portmarnock
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 210.6K
$90.9 €77.6
-36.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 115.7K
$40.20 €34.33
-20.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 363.3K
$101 €86.2
-1.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 389.7K
$108 €92.2
-0.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Portmarnock
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$1,478 €1,262
-67.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$1,254 €1,071
-70.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$2,397 €2,047
-65.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$1,979 €1,690
-63.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
$4,651 €3,972
-37.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Portmarnock
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$4,907 €4,191
-88.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.04
232.43%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Portmarnock: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $1,478 in Portmarnock. 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 800% higher in Portmarnock, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $106 in Portmarnock. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $343 – 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 Portmarnock: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Portmarnock cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Portmarnock is pricier by about 151%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $3,898 in Portmarnock. 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 Portmarnock?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $106 in Portmarnock. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Portmarnock?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $2,598 in Portmarnock. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Portmarnock?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Portmarnock at $2,598. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Portmarnock it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Portmarnock 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 Portmarnock?
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, Portmarnock makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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