😐A single person spends $1,938 per month in Mestre vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,024 per month in Mestre vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,109 per month in Mestre vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Mestre costs about 93% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mestre sits 46% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mestre
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.58€20.56
$5.91COP 18.9K
298.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.0€82.0
$32.96COP 105.2K
185.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.35€10.77
$7.43COP 23.7K
66.22%
Cappuccino
$2.11€1.84
$1.65COP 5,276
27.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18€2.77
$1.10COP 3,514
189.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.46
$0.78COP 2,491
114.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.72€4.99
$1.72COP 5,484
232.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.13
$3.18COP 10.1K
49.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mestre
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67€1.45
$1.10COP 3,521
51.82%
White Bread(500g)
$2.96€2.58
$1.26COP 4,015
134.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.85€2.49
$1.38COP 4,407
106.52%
Eggs
$4.36€3.81
$2.18COP 6,950
100.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.51€14.39
$4.49COP 14.3K
267.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.58€10.97
$5.79COP 18.5K
117.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.39€12.55
$8.97COP 28.6K
60.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90€2.53
$2.32COP 7,405
25.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98€1.73
$1.06COP 3,397
86.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.68€2.33
$1.52COP 4,838
76.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.68€2.34
$1.36COP 4,327
97.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.56
$1.13COP 3,599
58.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64€1.43
$1.17COP 3,738
40.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.86€1.62
$0.90COP 2,876
106.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47€0.41
$0.90COP 2,861
-47.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.94
$2.23COP 7,128
205.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.80€5.93
$12.12COP 38.7K
-43.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52€1.33
$1.19COP 3,793
27.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98€1.72
$2.48COP 7,920
-20.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Mestre
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.71€1.49
$0.85COP 2,723
101.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.32€42.12
$41.62COP 132.8K
16.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.14€6.22
$1.42COP 4,518
402.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46€1.28
$1.95COP 6,223
-25.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$46.22€40.29
$7.89COP 25.2K
485.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.81
$0.99COP 3,160
110.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K€26.7K
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
73.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K€24.5K
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
4.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mestre
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$225€196
$83.0COP 264.9K
170.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.48€11.76
$9.70COP 30.9K
38.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.92€23.47
$23.52COP 75.0K
14.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mestre
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.9€51.3
$25.26COP 80.6K
133.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.42€17.80
$19.10COP 60.9K
6.91%
Cinema Ticket
$11.53€10.06
$3.95COP 12.6K
191.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mestre
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$571€497
$316COP 1.0M
80.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,750€5,013
$5,975COP 19.1M
-3.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mestre
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.4€71.0
$60.0COP 191.4K
35.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.83€40.83
$31.82COP 101.5K
47.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.2€86.5
$102COP 324.4K
-2.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147€128
$107COP 342.8K
36.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mestre
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$909€793
$475COP 1.5M
91.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$752€655
$374COP 1.2M
101.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,599€1,394
$849COP 2.7M
88.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,292€1,127
$719COP 2.3M
79.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,965€1,713
$3,265COP 10.4M
-39.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,568€1,367
$1,441COP 4.6M
8.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mestre
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,953€1,702
$624COP 2.0M
212.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.9
13.43
-63.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mestre: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $909 in Mestre versus $475 in Medellin. 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 213% higher in Mestre, 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 $94.0 in Mestre versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $328 vs $193 – 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
Mestre vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Mestre?
Yes – Mestre is pricier by about 93%, 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 $2,908 per month in Mestre and $1,504 in Medellin. 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 Mestre or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Mestre and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mestre and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,938 in Mestre and $1,003 in Medellin. 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 Mestre or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Mestre at $1,938. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mestre it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mestre or Medellin 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 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, Mestre makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.