😐A single person spends $1,555 per month in Sesimbra vs $1,028 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,315 per month in Sesimbra vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,075 per month in Sesimbra vs $2,144 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Sesimbra costs about 51% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Sesimbra sits 17% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sesimbra
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.95€11.15
$6.00COP 20.6K
115.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.79€40.29
$32.84COP 112.5K
42.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.12€7.85
$7.42COP 25.4K
22.91%
Cappuccino
$2.56€2.21
$1.65COP 5,659
55.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.48
$1.07COP 3,663
59.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35€1.16
$0.76COP 2,607
77.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24€1.93
$1.72COP 5,908
30.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55€3.06
$3.20COP 11.0K
10.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sesimbra
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07€0.92
$1.05COP 3,597
1.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.92€1.66
$1.31COP 4,479
46.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.08€1.79
$1.34COP 4,591
55.22%
Eggs
$3.18€2.74
$2.19COP 7,521
45.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.06€9.52
$4.41COP 15.1K
150.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.63€6.57
$5.69COP 19.5K
34.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.02€12.07
$8.52COP 29.2K
64.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.28
$2.34COP 8,023
13.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45€1.25
$1.11COP 3,804
30.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69€1.46
$1.52COP 5,210
11.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.02€2.60
$1.37COP 4,680
120.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48€1.27
$1.15COP 3,950
28.70%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20€1.90
$1.18COP 4,043
86.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94€0.81
$0.84COP 2,885
11.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$0.86COP 2,931
2.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.82€5.01
$2.26COP 7,753
157.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.66€4.01
$11.60COP 39.8K
-59.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26€1.09
$1.20COP 4,109
5.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19€2.75
$2.48COP 8,484
28.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Sesimbra
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42€1.22
$0.79COP 2,721
79.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.20€40.65
$40.83COP 139.9K
15.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.72€3.20
$1.47COP 5,023
153.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.21€1.04
$1.92COP 6,568
-36.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.11€14.74
$7.77COP 26.6K
120.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.87€1.61
$1.01COP 3,464
85.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K€29.8K
$17.7KCOP 60.5M
95.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K€33.3K
$26.5KCOP 90.7M
46.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sesimbra
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$101€87.2
$81.1COP 277.9K
24.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.23€18.28
$9.43COP 32.3K
125.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.01€38.76
$23.86COP 81.8K
88.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sesimbra
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.82€39.45
$25.99COP 89.1K
76.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.71COP 64.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.31€7.16
$4.09COP 14.0K
103.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sesimbra
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$741€638
$315COP 1.1M
135.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,255€6,247
$6,022COP 20.6M
20.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sesimbra
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.1€59.5
$59.7COP 204.6K
15.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.49€33.14
$31.97COP 109.6K
20.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.1€60.3
$101COP 346.9K
-30.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.0€80.1
$105COP 360.3K
-11.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sesimbra
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$830€715
$485COP 1.7M
71.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$704€606
$365COP 1.3M
92.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,384€1,191
$827COP 2.8M
67.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,178€1,015
$730COP 2.5M
61.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,219€2,772
$2,992COP 10.3M
7.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,186€1,882
$1,314COP 4.5M
66.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sesimbra
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,457€1,254
$551COP 1.9M
164.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.01
13.43
-62.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sesimbra: June 16, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $830 in Sesimbra versus $485 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 164% higher in Sesimbra, 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 $47.00 in Sesimbra versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $253 vs $190 – 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
Sesimbra vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sesimbra?
Yes – Sesimbra is pricier by about 51%, 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 $2,332 per month in Sesimbra and $1,542 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 Sesimbra or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Sesimbra 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 Sesimbra vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,555 in Sesimbra and $1,028 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 Sesimbra or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,028, than in Sesimbra at $1,555. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sesimbra it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sesimbra 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, Sesimbra 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, Sesimbra makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.