😐A single person spends $1,338 per month in Viana do Castelo vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,040 per month in Viana do Castelo vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,743 per month in Viana do Castelo vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Viana do Castelo costs about 32% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Viana do Castelo sits 0% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.99€7.74
$5.95COP 20.8K
51.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.18€40.65
$33.33COP 116.3K
41.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29€8.00
$7.23COP 25.2K
28.49%
Cappuccino
$1.33€1.14
$1.63COP 5,687
-18.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.52
$1.09COP 3,821
61.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14€0.98
$0.73COP 2,548
56.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56€1.35
$1.74COP 6,065
-10.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$3.23COP 11.3K
-38.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07€0.92
$1.05COP 3,662
1.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99€0.85
$1.29COP 4,515
-23.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.37€1.18
$1.32COP 4,617
3.79%
Eggs
$2.99€2.57
$2.27COP 7,927
31.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.43€9.85
$4.35COP 15.2K
162.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.00€6.89
$5.88COP 20.5K
36.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.24€12.27
$8.61COP 30.0K
65.39%
Apples(1kg)
$2.04€1.76
$2.25COP 7,844
-9.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36€1.18
$1.07COP 3,733
27.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65€1.42
$1.52COP 5,322
8.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.34€2.02
$1.42COP 4,964
64.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.30€1.12
$1.17COP 4,084
11.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73€1.49
$1.17COP 4,077
47.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.67€1.44
$0.89COP 3,096
87.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67€0.57
$0.90COP 3,146
-25.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.99€5.16
$2.25COP 7,837
166.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.04€4.35
$11.04COP 38.5K
-54.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13€0.98
$1.14COP 3,977
-0.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63€2.26
$2.38COP 8,301
10.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25€1.94
$0.84COP 2,916
167.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.75€36.84
$41.95COP 146.4K
1.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.66€3.15
$1.41COP 4,912
159.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23€1.06
$1.90COP 6,634
-35.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.67€12.64
$7.75COP 27.0K
89.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91€1.65
$1.01COP 3,509
89.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.9K€29.2K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
92.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
49.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.9€73.2
$83.7COP 292.1K
1.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.50€18.52
$9.45COP 33.0K
127.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.48€34.02
$24.11COP 84.1K
63.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.6€49.62
$25.31COP 88.3K
127.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.12€17.34
$19.14COP 66.8K
5.12%
Cinema Ticket
$8.17€7.04
$4.10COP 14.3K
99.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456€393
$312COP 1.1M
46.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,330€7,177
$5,993COP 20.9M
38.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.4€63.2
$58.0COP 202.6K
26.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.04€30.19
$32.56COP 113.6K
7.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.2€63.9
$99.6COP 347.7K
-25.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1€75.1
$109COP 378.8K
-19.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$725€624
$482COP 1.7M
50.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$550€474
$379COP 1.3M
44.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,073€924
$837COP 2.9M
28.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$949€818
$723COP 2.5M
31.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,661€1,431
$2,840COP 9.9M
-41.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,463€1,260
$1,223COP 4.3M
19.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Viana do Castelo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,229€1,059
$541COP 1.9M
127.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.29
13.43
-60.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Viana do Castelo: June 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $725 in Viana do Castelo versus $482 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 127% higher in Viana do Castelo, 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 Viana do Castelo versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 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
Viana do Castelo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Viana do Castelo?
Yes – Viana do Castelo is pricier by about 32%, 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 $2,007 per month in Viana do Castelo and $1,525 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 Viana do Castelo or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Viana do Castelo 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 Viana do Castelo vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,338 in Viana do Castelo and $1,017 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 Viana do Castelo or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Viana do Castelo at $1,338. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Viana do Castelo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Viana do Castelo 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, 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Viana do Castelo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Viana do Castelo vs other spots: cost of living compared