Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Villeurbanne

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,614 a month against $1,940 in Villeurbanne, rent and utilities included – about $3,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Villeurbanne
🇫🇷 France
$1,940
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Villeurbanne

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 Villeurbanne actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,614 per month in Medellin vs $1,940 in Villeurbanne, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Villeurbanne $1,940

A couple spends around $2,402 per month in Medellin vs $2,822 in Villeurbanne, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Villeurbanne $2,822

A family of three spends $3,190 per month in Medellin vs $3,704 in Villeurbanne, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Villeurbanne $3,704

Medellin is about 17% cheaper than Villeurbanne, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Medellin and Villeurbanne sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Villeurbanne by 44%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$16.54 €14.71
-52.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.3K
$66.1 €58.8
-30.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$13.45 €11.96
-29.37%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,866
$4.11 €3.66
-24.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,800
$2.77 €2.46
-33.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,360
$1.72 €1.53
-19.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,672
$7.86 €6.99
-61.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$6.12 €5.45
-10.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,600
$1.25 €1.11
16.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,496
$1.71 €1.52
38.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,328
$2.47 €2.19
-31.98%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,077
$4.80 €4.27
-40.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$22.69 €20.19
-55.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$12.13 €10.79
-21.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
$23.09 €20.54
-39.19%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$2.35 €2.09
73.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,742
$2.50 €2.22
-40.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,891
$2.83 €2.52
-23.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,310
$3.03 €2.70
-23.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,113
$2.58 €2.30
-25.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,196
$3.01 €2.67
-45.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,571
$1.42 €1.26
-20.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,954
$0.83 €0.74
50.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$13.45 €11.96
-70.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$7.79 €6.93
71.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,384
$2.73 €2.42
-37.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,525
$3.21 €2.85
-26.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,827
$2.32 €2.06
-47.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.5K
$80.6 €71.7
-5.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,179
$2.83 €2.52
-53.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,774
$2.24 €2.00
-4.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$41.58 €36.98
-79.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,114
$2.18 €1.94
-40.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$34.8K €31.0K
-19.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.3M
$34.6K €30.7K
2.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.6K
$232 €206
-25.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$18.46 €16.42
-27.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.1K
$35.22 €31.33
-18.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.5K
$35.65 €31.71
26.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$14.31 €12.73
-56.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$633 €563
21.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
$11.5K €10.2K
-21.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.0K
$108 €96.2
-20.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.1K
$43.18 €38.41
32.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.9K
$106 €94.0
29.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.4K
$124 €110
-21.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
$1,011 €899
4.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$649 €577
-5.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$1,136 €1,010
66.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
$882 €784
16.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
$3,919 €3,486
3.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
$3,017 €2,684
-44.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$4,178 €3,716
-84.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.77
190.19%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Villeurbanne: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Villeurbanne
$649 5.3% $33
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Villeurbanne
$375 27.2% $80
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Villeurbanne
$286 33.3% $71
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Villeurbanne
$171 0.8% $1.4
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Villeurbanne
$291 73.1% $123
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Villeurbanne
$104 11.4% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Villeurbanne
$64 11.2% $6.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,055 in Medellin versus $1,011 in Villeurbanne. 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 540% higher in Villeurbanne, 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 $46.00 in Medellin versus $66.0 in Villeurbanne. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $375 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇫🇷 Villeurbanne
🕒 Local time
02:40 2:40 AM
09:40 9:40 AM
7 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
156,928
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Villeurbanne 8,770 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Villeurbanne

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 Villeurbanne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Villeurbanne cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Villeurbanne is pricier by about 20%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,421 per month in Medellin and $2,910 in Villeurbanne. 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 in Villeurbanne?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Medellin and $66.0 in Villeurbanne. 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 Villeurbanne?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,614 in Medellin and $1,940 in Villeurbanne. That's a gap of about 20%.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Villeurbanne?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,614, than in Villeurbanne at $1,940. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Villeurbanne it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Villeurbanne 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 Villeurbanne?
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, Villeurbanne makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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