😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,543 in Terrassa, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $2,369 in Terrassa, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $3,195 in Terrassa, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 9% more than Terrassa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Terrassa sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Terrassa by 13%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Terrassa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$15.28€13.32
-47.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$57.1€49.73
-16.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$12.91€11.25
-23.39%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$2.72€2.37
15.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$2.42€2.11
-21.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$1.84€1.60
-17.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$3.39€2.96
-7.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$4.52€3.94
27.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Terrassa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.17€1.02
23.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$1.53€1.33
62.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$1.79€1.56
-1.12%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$3.81€3.32
-22.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$14.79€12.89
-31.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$9.50€8.28
6.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$20.08€17.50
-28.78%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$2.53€2.21
63.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$2.09€1.83
-22.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$1.62€1.41
38.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$2.84€2.48
-20.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$1.86€1.62
9.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$1.98€1.72
-22.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$1.57€1.37
-25.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.79€0.69
65.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$7.11€6.19
-45.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$6.82€5.94
105.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.49€1.30
16.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$2.52€2.20
13.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Terrassa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$1.71€1.49
-28.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$23.20€20.23
246.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$3.25€2.83
-59.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$1.50€1.31
46.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$15.30€13.34
-43.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$1.80€1.57
-23.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$36.4K€31.7K
-23.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$31.6K€27.5K
13.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Terrassa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$120€105
47.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$15.39€13.42
-9.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$36.90€32.17
-19.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Terrassa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$34.09€29.71
31.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$10.77€9.39
-38.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Terrassa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$464€405
75.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$10.4K€9,096
-11.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Terrassa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$64.6€56.3
38.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$22.09€19.26
166.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$108€93.9
28.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$124€108
-17.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Terrassa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$864€753
22.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$603€525
9.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$1,169€1,019
61.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$1,023€892
0.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$2,871€2,502
45.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$2,187€1,906
-23.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Terrassa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$2,362€2,059
-71.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.3
231.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Terrassa: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $864 in Terrassa. 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 249% higher in Terrassa, 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 $57.0 in Terrassa. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $299 in Terrassa – so Terrassa 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 Terrassa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Terrassa cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 9%, 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $2,315 in Terrassa. 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 Terrassa, 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 Terrassa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $57.0 in Terrassa. 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 Terrassa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $1,543 in Terrassa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Terrassa?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Terrassa, where all-in costs run around $1,543, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Terrassa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Terrassa more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Terrassa – 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 Terrassa?
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 Terrassa. 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.