🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $713 in Acarigua versus $1,031 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,229 in Acarigua versus $1,599 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,744 in Acarigua versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Acarigua costs roughly 31% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Acarigua47% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.23VES 8,988
$6.16COP 20.1K
98.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.8VES 40.3K
$32.60COP 106.1K
68.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.04VES 7,383
$7.34COP 23.9K
36.78%
Cappuccino
$2.59VES 1,907
$1.72COP 5,600
50.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32VES 969
$1.05COP 3,420
25.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02VES 746
$0.77COP 2,515
32.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.53VES 1,126
$1.69COP 5,488
-9.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93VES 2,157
$3.17COP 10.3K
-7.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82VES 1,340
$1.05COP 3,423
73.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71VES 1,991
$1.30COP 4,236
108.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.43VES 1,053
$1.40COP 4,544
2.14%
Eggs
$2.84VES 2,091
$2.16COP 7,047
31.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.74VES 7,160
$4.39COP 14.3K
121.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.51VES 5,523
$5.88COP 19.1K
27.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60VES 5,590
$8.64COP 28.1K
-12.04%
Apples(1kg)
$5.37VES 3,951
$2.28COP 7,426
135.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78VES 1,311
$1.11COP 3,604
60.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27VES 1,672
$1.53COP 4,983
48.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97VES 1,451
$1.35COP 4,410
45.93%
Potato(1kg)
$2.55VES 1,876
$1.13COP 3,674
125.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.08VES 1,528
$1.13COP 3,692
84.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31VES 964
$0.85COP 2,753
54.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95VES 1,435
$0.91COP 2,975
114.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.95VES 2,901
$2.34COP 7,630
68.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.18VES 8,952
$12.37COP 40.3K
-1.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53VES 1,122
$1.20COP 3,909
27.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97VES 1,449
$2.49COP 8,104
-20.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.84COP 2,728
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.12VES 3,764
$1.42COP 4,623
260.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.75VES 2,021
$1.92COP 6,235
43.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.92VES 7,289
$7.66COP 24.9K
29.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.49VES 359
$0.99COP 3,223
-50.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KVES 18.6M
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
40.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6KVES 29.1M
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
48.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$20.45VES 15.0K
$80.8COP 263.1K
-74.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.09VES 9,622
$9.95COP 32.4K
31.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.32VES 28.9K
$24.18COP 78.7K
62.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.08COP 81.7K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.01VES 4,418
$3.98COP 13.0K
51.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$134VES 98.8K
$305COP 993.5K
-55.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,554VES 4.1M
$6,059COP 19.7M
-8.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.7VES 46.9K
$58.1COP 189.2K
9.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.61VES 28.4K
$32.20COP 104.8K
19.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102VES 75.2K
$101COP 327.9K
1.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117VES 85.9K
$108COP 350.8K
8.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$477COP 1.6M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$376COP 1.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$845COP 2.7M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$730COP 2.4M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,215COP 10.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$641VES 470.9K
$1,372COP 4.5M
-53.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
21.33
13.43
58.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Acarigua: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $55.0 in Acarigua vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $285 vs $193 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Acarigua vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Acarigua?
Acarigua is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,070 in Acarigua and $1,546 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Acarigua and in Medellin?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 48% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Acarigua and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $713 per month in Acarigua versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Acarigua or in Medellin?
At $713 in Acarigua versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Acarigua but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Acarigua the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Acarigua or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Acarigua is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Acarigua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.