🙂A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $2,136 in Villeurbanne, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $3,018 in Villeurbanne, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $3,900 in Villeurbanne, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 52% cheaper than Villeurbanne, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Villeurbanne is 60% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$17.39€15.23
-64.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$57.5€50.4
-43.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$13.50€11.82
-45.63%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$3.95€3.46
-56.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$2.93€2.56
-64.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$1.89€1.66
-59.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$5.74€5.03
-70.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$7.06€6.18
-55.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.37€1.20
-23.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$2.64€2.31
-50.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$2.67€2.34
-47.57%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$4.04€3.54
-46.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$19.36€16.95
-77.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$15.60€13.66
-62.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$26.15€22.91
-66.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$3.08€2.70
-25.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$2.49€2.18
-55.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$3.51€3.07
-56.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$3.86€3.38
-65.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$2.32€2.03
-51.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$2.84€2.49
-60.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$1.42€1.24
-40.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.86€0.76
5.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$13.68€11.98
-82.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$8.08€7.08
53.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$3.02€2.64
-60.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$3.09€2.71
-19.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$2.22€1.94
-62.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$83.5€73.1
-51.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$5.06€4.43
-71.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$1.88€1.65
2.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$33.65€29.47
-77.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$2.04€1.78
-51.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$38.0K€33.3K
-52.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$37.4K€32.8K
-28.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$199€174
-59.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$22.61€19.80
-55.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$35.02€30.67
-30.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$38.18€33.44
-34.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$18.00€15.76
6.39%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$14.12€12.37
-71.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$732€641
-58.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$8,182€7,166
-25.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$101€88.5
-42.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$46.35€40.59
-30.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$123€108
-18.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$182€159
-40.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$1,034€906
-53.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$782€685
-51.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$1,187€1,039
-28.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$897€786
-18.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$3,968€3,475
-18.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$3,043€2,665
-54.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Villeurbanne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$4,271€3,740
-85.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
3.67
265.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Villeurbanne: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $1,034 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 592% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $58.0 in Villeurbanne. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $411 – 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 Villeurbanne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Villeurbanne cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Villeurbanne is pricier by about 107%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $3,204 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $58.0 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 $1,031 in Medellin and $2,136 in Villeurbanne. 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 Villeurbanne?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Villeurbanne at $2,136. 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.