Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Salerno

For one person, living costs are similar in Medellin and in Salerno: $1,639 and $1,670 a month, rent and utilities included.

Medellin, Colombia
Salerno, Italy
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Salerno
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,670
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Salerno

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Salerno actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $1,670 in Salerno, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Salerno $1,670

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $2,576 in Salerno, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Salerno $2,576

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $3,482 in Salerno, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Salerno $3,482

Medellin and Salerno have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Medellin and Salerno sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Salerno by 23%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Salerno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.4K
$13.98 €12.56
-42.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.0K
$44.63 €40.09
5.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 29.9K
$11.26 €10.11
-15.63%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,485
$2.14 €1.92
40.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,660
$2.52 €2.26
-28.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,443
$1.37 €1.23
2.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 9,990
$5.47 €4.91
-41.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
$4.52 €4.06
27.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Salerno
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,751
$1.42 €1.28
6.34%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,480
$1.71 €1.54
39.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,573
$2.06 €1.85
-14.08%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,093
$4.07 €3.66
-28.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.1K
$18.51 €16.62
-44.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.1K
$12.07 €10.84
-18.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.0K
$18.80 €16.89
-25.59%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.5K
$2.58 €2.32
53.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,883
$1.71 €1.53
-9.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,867
$1.66 €1.49
31.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,870
$2.22 €1.99
-1.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,174
$1.99 €1.79
-1.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,000
$1.71 €1.53
-7.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,604
$0.81 €0.73
41.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,911
$0.36 €0.32
244.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$6.58 €5.91
-39.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.0K
$5.52 €4.95
147.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,221
$1.56 €1.40
6.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,103
$2.24 €2.01
0.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Salerno
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,674
$1.66 €1.49
-29.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 243.4K
$37.60 €33.78
105.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 3,989
$6.73 €6.05
-81.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,442
$4.00 €3.59
-48.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 26.9K
$22.45 €20.17
-61.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,237
$1.98 €1.78
-31.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.2M
$35.6K €31.9K
-4.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.1M
$35.2K €31.6K
-1.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Salerno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 533.7K
$82.4 €74.0
105.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.6K
$13.86 €12.45
-2.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.3K
$28.71 €25.79
-2.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Salerno
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 137.5K
$56.9 €51.1
-23.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.1K
$10.98 €9.86
56.56%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.7K
$11.16 €10.02
-38.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Salerno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$276 €248
188.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Salerno
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 266.5K
$110 €98.8
-22.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 182.3K
$28.10 €25.24
106.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 424.6K
$84.2 €75.7
60.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 307.9K
$131 €118
-25.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Salerno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$986 €885
22.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$704 €632
-8.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$1,761 €1,582
15.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$1,269 €1,140
-20.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.1M
$5,003 €4,494
-16.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$2,741 €2,462
-30.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Salerno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$1,641 €1,474
-59.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
4.25
157.41%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Salerno: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Salerno
$704 9.7% $62
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Salerno
$309 4.1% $12
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Salerno
$125 40.9% $86
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Salerno
$223 31.6% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Salerno
$159 6% $10
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Salerno
$71 24.1% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Salerno
$79 37.6% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $986 in Salerno. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Salerno are about 2.5 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $45 in Salerno. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Medellin vs $309 in Salerno – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇮🇹 Salerno
🕒 Local time
15:48 3:48 PM
21:48 9:48 PM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
150,188
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3,146 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,502 COP (10,000 COP = 2.86 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Salerno 9,580 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Salerno

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Salerno: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $2,506 in Salerno. 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 Salerno, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $986 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Salerno?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $45 in Salerno. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 51% less in Salerno. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 enough for either Medellin or Salerno?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,639 in Medellin and $1,670 in Salerno, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Medellin or in Salerno?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,639 in Medellin to $1,670 in Salerno. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Salerno makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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