Cost of Living Comparison Between Setubal and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Setubal and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,698 per month in Setubal vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,439 per month in Setubal vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,181 per month in Setubal vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Setubal costs about 1% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Setubal and Medellin sit above the global median – Setubal by 24%, Medellin by 23%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Setubal
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.45 €11.73
$8.02 COP 25.0K
67.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.14 €42.83
$47.87 COP 149.4K
2.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.40 €8.20
$9.89 COP 30.8K
-4.95%
Cappuccino
$1.97 €1.72
$3.13 COP 9,767
-37.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 €1.79
$1.91 COP 5,954
7.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 €1.00
$1.51 COP 4,712
-23.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 €2.06
$3.12 COP 9,747
-24.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 €2.96
$5.75 COP 17.9K
-40.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Setubal
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 €0.91
$1.44 COP 4,509
-27.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 €1.39
$2.49 COP 7,759
-35.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 €1.51
$1.77 COP 5,535
-1.69%
Eggs
$3.51 €3.06
$2.96 COP 9,235
18.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.18 €10.62
$10.07 COP 31.4K
20.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.73 €6.74
$10.12 COP 31.6K
-23.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.15 €13.21
$14.30 COP 44.6K
5.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.48 €2.16
$4.14 COP 12.9K
-40.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 €1.26
$1.61 COP 5,019
-10.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 €1.62
$2.25 COP 7,007
-17.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.90 €2.53
$2.25 COP 7,028
28.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.70 €1.48
$2.04 COP 6,375
-16.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 €1.84
$1.54 COP 4,790
37.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.59 €1.39
$1.17 COP 3,651
35.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 €0.64
$1.31 COP 4,077
-44.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.95 €5.18
$3.90 COP 12.2K
52.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.74 €4.13
$14.01 COP 43.7K
-66.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89 €0.78
$1.74 COP 5,439
-48.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 €1.91
$2.87 COP 8,956
-23.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Setubal
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.35 €3.79
$1.22 COP 3,792
256.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.69 €39.83
$80.5 COP 251.1K
-43.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.78 €3.29
$1.31 COP 4,084
188.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 €1.23
$2.19 COP 6,825
-35.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.57 €12.70
$8.71 COP 27.2K
67.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 €1.85
$1.37 COP 4,260
54.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K €30.3K
$27.8K COP 86.9M
24.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €33.8K
$35.8K COP 111.6M
8.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Setubal
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 €90.0
$177 COP 553.2K
-41.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.73 €18.94
$13.88 COP 43.3K
56.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.88 €29.54
$29.72 COP 92.8K
14.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Setubal
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.49 €28.32
$44.88 COP 140.1K
-27.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.19 €14.12
$17.12 COP 53.4K
-5.43%
Cinema Ticket
$7.90 €6.89
$6.65 COP 20.7K
18.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Setubal
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$606 €528
$813 COP 2.5M
-25.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.2K €9,742
$9,187 COP 28.7M
21.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Setubal
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.8 €60.8
$89.5 COP 279.3K
-22.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.25 €33.34
$59.0 COP 184.0K
-35.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.3 €63.0
$138 COP 431.2K
-47.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.2 €83.9
$102 COP 318.7K
-5.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Setubal
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,025 €894
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-3.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$849 €740
$663 COP 2.1M
28.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,694 €1,477
$1,888 COP 5.9M
-10.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,197 €1,044
$1,027 COP 3.2M
16.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,299 €3,747
$4,183 COP 13.1M
2.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,433 €2,121
$1,675 COP 5.2M
45.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Setubal
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,329 €1,158
$678 COP 2.1M
96.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.85
10.94
-64.81%

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

Last update for Setubal: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,025 in Setubal versus $1,062 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 96% higher in Setubal, 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 $49.00 in Setubal versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $254 in Setubal vs $305 in Medellin – so Setubal wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Setubal vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Setubal?
Yes – Setubal is pricier by about 1%, 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 $2,547 per month in Setubal and $2,521 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 Setubal or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Setubal 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 Setubal and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,698 in Setubal and $1,681 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 Setubal or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in Setubal at $1,698. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Setubal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Setubal 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, Setubal 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, Setubal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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