🙂A single person spends $1,556 per month in Viana do Castelo vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,531 per month in Viana do Castelo vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,507 per month in Viana do Castelo vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Viana do Castelo is about 8% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Viana do Castelo and Medellin sit above the global median – Viana do Castelo by 14%, Medellin by 23%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.38€8.02
$7.89COP 24.2K
18.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.9€44.37
$44.53COP 136.5K
16.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.19€7.86
$9.29COP 28.5K
-1.08%
Cappuccino
$1.54€1.32
$2.90COP 8,874
-46.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91€1.63
$1.81COP 5,541
5.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.13
$1.55COP 4,741
-14.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.61€1.38
$3.25COP 9,962
-50.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93€1.65
$5.88COP 18.0K
-67.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00€0.85
$1.38COP 4,230
-27.54%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99€0.85
$2.45COP 7,517
-59.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40€1.20
$1.51COP 4,617
-7.28%
Eggs
$2.99€2.56
$2.78COP 8,516
7.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.47€11.53
$9.05COP 27.7K
48.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.93€6.78
$10.65COP 32.6K
-25.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.88€12.73
$14.63COP 44.8K
1.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.05€1.76
$3.97COP 12.2K
-48.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38€1.18
$1.38COP 4,219
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65€1.41
$2.30COP 7,056
-28.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.31€1.98
$2.02COP 6,185
14.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.54€1.32
$2.09COP 6,390
-26.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.54
$1.63COP 4,996
10.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.58€1.35
$1.08COP 3,313
46.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67€0.57
$1.25COP 3,843
-46.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.97€5.10
$4.03COP 12.4K
48.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.56€3.90
$13.47COP 41.3K
-66.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40€1.19
$1.60COP 4,904
-12.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69€2.30
$3.00COP 9,189
-10.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.74€3.20
$1.18COP 3,611
216.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.4€49.95
$79.9COP 244.9K
-26.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.83€3.28
$1.61COP 4,920
137.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50€1.28
$2.13COP 6,533
-29.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.74€16.03
$8.52COP 26.1K
119.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15€1.84
$1.35COP 4,142
59.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K€28.8K
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
18.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3K€33.6K
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
10.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.1€75.4
$151COP 463.8K
-41.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.19€18.13
$13.10COP 40.1K
61.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.52€36.37
$32.30COP 99.0K
31.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7€49.38
$46.33COP 141.9K
24.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.98€17.09
$17.26COP 52.9K
15.76%
Cinema Ticket
$9.18€7.85
$6.43COP 19.7K
42.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456€390
$835COP 2.6M
-45.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,555€5,607
$8,887COP 27.2M
-26.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.0€66.7
$89.3COP 273.7K
-12.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.76€31.44
$55.3COP 169.5K
-33.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.4€65.4
$137COP 418.5K
-44.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.2€73.8
$109COP 335.1K
-21.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$857€733
$952COP 2.9M
-10.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$734€628
$668COP 2.0M
9.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,017€1,725
$2,020COP 6.2M
-0.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,553€1,328
$1,148COP 3.5M
35.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,686€1,442
$3,696COP 11.3M
-54.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475€1,262
$1,586COP 4.9M
-6.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,255€1,073
$625COP 1.9M
100.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.64
10.43
-65.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Viana do Castelo: August 17, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $857 in Viana do Castelo versus $952 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 101% higher in Viana do Castelo, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Viana do Castelo versus $45.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Viana do Castelo vs $297 in Medellin – so Viana do Castelo 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
Viana do Castelo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Viana do Castelo?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 8%, 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 $2,334 per month in Viana do Castelo and $2,530 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 Viana do Castelo, 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 Viana do Castelo or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Viana do Castelo and $45.00 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 Viana do Castelo and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,556 in Viana do Castelo and $1,687 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Viana do Castelo or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Viana do Castelo, where all-in costs run around $1,556, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Viana do Castelo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Viana do Castelo or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Viana do Castelo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Viana do Castelo 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 Viana do Castelo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Viana do Castelo vs other spots: cost of living compared