Cost of Living Comparison Between Olbia and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Olbia and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,801 per month in Olbia vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,710 per month in Olbia vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,620 per month in Olbia vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Olbia costs about 5% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Olbia and Medellin sit above the global median – Olbia by 31%, Medellin by 25%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Olbia
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.03 €19.80
$8.03 COP 25.2K
186.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.2 €76.7
$48.26 COP 151.7K
84.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.37 €8.92
$9.77 COP 30.7K
6.14%
Cappuccino
$1.97 €1.69
$2.91 COP 9,149
-32.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 €2.93
$1.94 COP 6,110
75.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 €1.28
$1.52 COP 4,783
-1.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.54 €3.05
$3.09 COP 9,721
14.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 €3.03
$5.74 COP 18.1K
-38.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Olbia
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 €1.33
$1.36 COP 4,287
13.24%
White Bread (500g)
$2.12 €1.82
$2.39 COP 7,505
-11.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.78 €2.39
$1.70 COP 5,346
63.53%
Eggs
$3.58 €3.08
$2.87 COP 9,021
24.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.84 €14.48
$9.94 COP 31.2K
69.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.14 €10.44
$10.78 COP 33.9K
12.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.53 €15.93
$14.73 COP 46.3K
25.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 €2.01
$4.09 COP 12.8K
-42.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 €1.61
$1.57 COP 4,940
19.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 €2.01
$2.13 COP 6,682
9.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.96 €2.54
$2.21 COP 6,959
33.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 €1.32
$2.05 COP 6,435
-24.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.47 €1.26
$1.50 COP 4,728
-2.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.50 €1.29
$1.19 COP 3,740
26.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 €0.35
$1.16 COP 3,640
-65.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.93 €5.96
$3.90 COP 12.2K
77.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.99 €6.87
$14.44 COP 45.4K
-44.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 €1.45
$1.58 COP 4,978
6.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 €1.49
$2.83 COP 8,889
-38.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Olbia
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.43 €1.23
$1.17 COP 3,672
22.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.52 €15.06
$77.7 COP 244.3K
-77.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$9.70 €8.34
$1.28 COP 4,038
657.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 €1.36
$2.09 COP 6,576
-24.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.28 €27.75
$8.62 COP 27.1K
274.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 €1.83
$1.30 COP 4,080
63.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K €32.9K
$27.7K COP 86.9M
38.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8K €31.6K
$35.5K COP 111.6M
3.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Olbia
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$163 €140
$176 COP 553.4K
-7.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.52 €8.18
$13.37 COP 42.0K
-28.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.61 €23.73
$29.89 COP 94.0K
-7.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Olbia
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.55 €32.28
$44.76 COP 140.7K
-16.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.44 €25.31
$17.06 COP 53.6K
72.57%
Cinema Ticket
$11.78 €10.13
$6.20 COP 19.5K
90.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Olbia
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$332 €285
$793 COP 2.5M
-58.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,519 €7,324
$9,019 COP 28.4M
-5.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Olbia
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102 €87.4
$85.6 COP 269.1K
18.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.88 €40.30
$58.5 COP 183.8K
-19.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.3 €84.5
$136 COP 428.4K
-27.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 €109
$103 COP 324.1K
22.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Olbia
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$926 €796
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-12.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$762 €655
$680 COP 2.1M
12.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 €1,212
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-29.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$983 €845
$1,169 COP 3.7M
-15.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,335 €2,868
$4,111 COP 12.9M
-18.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,744 €2,359
$1,701 COP 5.3M
61.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Olbia
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,988 €1,709
$665 COP 2.1M
198.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.27
10.94
-70.11%

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

Last update for Olbia: August 29, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $926 in Olbia versus $1,060 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 199% higher in Olbia, 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 $89.0 in Olbia versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $322 vs $303 – 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
Olbia vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Olbia?
Yes – Olbia is pricier by about 5%, 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 $2,701 per month in Olbia and $2,574 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 Olbia or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Olbia and $48.00 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 Olbia and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,801 in Olbia and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Olbia or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Olbia at $1,801. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Olbia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Olbia 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 safer, Olbia or Medellin?
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, Olbia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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