😐A single person spends $2,130 per month in Villeurbanne vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,007 per month in Villeurbanne vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,884 per month in Villeurbanne vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Villeurbanne costs about 110% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Villeurbanne sits 59% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Villeurbanne
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.41€14.99
$5.99COP 21.3K
190.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6€50.4
$32.86COP 116.9K
78.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.47€11.59
$7.09COP 25.2K
89.99%
Cappuccino
$3.98€3.43
$1.71COP 6,093
132.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89€2.49
$1.10COP 3,910
162.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83€1.57
$0.78COP 2,771
134.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.66€4.88
$1.68COP 5,976
236.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11€6.12
$3.07COP 10.9K
131.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Villeurbanne
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40€1.21
$1.09COP 3,892
28.44%
White Bread(500g)
$2.63€2.26
$1.26COP 4,492
108.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.60€2.23
$1.38COP 4,905
88.41%
Eggs
$4.08€3.52
$2.19COP 7,799
86.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.97€17.19
$4.40COP 15.7K
353.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.36€13.23
$5.63COP 20.0K
172.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.62€22.06
$8.89COP 31.6K
188.19%
Apples(1kg)
$3.10€2.67
$2.34COP 8,319
32.48%
Banana(1kg)
$2.56€2.21
$1.06COP 3,764
141.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.59€3.09
$1.50COP 5,355
139.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.04€3.48
$1.38COP 4,906
192.75%
Potato(1kg)
$2.42€2.08
$1.15COP 4,097
110.43%
Onion(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$1.16COP 4,141
143.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.28
$0.89COP 3,170
67.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.78
$0.84COP 2,986
8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.09€12.13
$2.28COP 8,116
517.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.02€6.90
$10.64COP 37.9K
-24.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.95€2.54
$1.20COP 4,268
145.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10€2.67
$2.47COP 8,793
25.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Villeurbanne
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.32€2.00
$0.86COP 3,045
169.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$83.0€71.4
$41.40COP 147.3K
100.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.30€4.56
$1.47COP 5,245
260.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.89€1.63
$1.96COP 6,984
-3.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.43€28.78
$7.74COP 27.5K
331.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.73
$0.95COP 3,397
111.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K€32.0K
$18.1KCOP 64.5M
105.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.6K€31.6K
$26.5KCOP 94.2M
38.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Villeurbanne
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$200€172
$82.3COP 292.7K
143.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.67€19.52
$9.50COP 33.8K
138.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.83€29.98
$24.23COP 86.2K
43.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Villeurbanne
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.28€32.09
$25.89COP 92.1K
43.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.97€15.47
$19.00COP 67.6K
-5.42%
Cinema Ticket
$14.05€12.09
$3.93COP 14.0K
257.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Villeurbanne
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$750€645
$309COP 1.1M
142.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,196€7,056
$5,965COP 21.2M
37.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Villeurbanne
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€88.6
$58.7COP 208.7K
75.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.48€40.02
$32.35COP 115.1K
43.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124€106
$103COP 365.1K
20.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$179€154
$108COP 385.8K
64.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Villeurbanne
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,053€907
$476COP 1.7M
121.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$763€657
$379COP 1.3M
101.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,198€1,032
$838COP 3.0M
42.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$898€773
$724COP 2.6M
24.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,104€3,533
$2,791COP 9.9M
47.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,196€2,751
$1,211COP 4.3M
163.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Villeurbanne
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,695€3,181
$512COP 1.8M
622.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.67
13.43
-72.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Villeurbanne: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,053 in Villeurbanne versus $476 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 622% higher in Villeurbanne, 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 $59.0 in Villeurbanne versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $413 vs $188 – 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
Villeurbanne vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Villeurbanne?
Yes – Villeurbanne is pricier by about 110%, 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 $3,195 per month in Villeurbanne and $1,519 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 Villeurbanne or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Villeurbanne 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 Villeurbanne vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,130 in Villeurbanne and $1,013 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 Villeurbanne or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Villeurbanne at $2,130. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Villeurbanne it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Villeurbanne 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, Villeurbanne 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, Villeurbanne makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Villeurbanne vs other spots: cost of living compared