🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $707 in Acarigua versus $1,013 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,238 in Acarigua versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,769 in Acarigua versus $2,192 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Acarigua costs roughly 30% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Acarigua47% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.10VES 6,740
$5.99COP 21.4K
102.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7VES 30.5K
$32.86COP 117.4K
66.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.99VES 5,565
$7.09COP 25.3K
40.90%
Cappuccino
$2.64VES 1,472
$1.71COP 6,115
54.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27VES 707
$1.10COP 3,924
15.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97VES 540
$0.78COP 2,781
24.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.48VES 825
$1.68COP 5,997
-11.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97VES 1,656
$3.07COP 11.0K
-3.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.86VES 1,038
$1.09COP 3,906
70.64%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67VES 1,488
$1.26COP 4,508
111.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.45VES 808
$1.38COP 4,922
5.07%
Eggs
$2.86VES 1,595
$2.19COP 7,827
30.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.70VES 5,403
$4.40COP 15.7K
120.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.38VES 4,115
$5.63COP 20.1K
31.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.48VES 4,167
$8.89COP 31.8K
-15.86%
Apples(1kg)
$5.33VES 2,970
$2.34COP 8,349
127.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80VES 1,002
$1.06COP 3,777
69.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27VES 1,265
$1.50COP 5,374
51.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02VES 1,125
$1.38COP 4,924
46.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.69VES 1,497
$1.15COP 4,111
133.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09VES 1,162
$1.16COP 4,155
80.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34VES 749
$0.89COP 3,182
50.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89VES 1,054
$0.84COP 2,997
125.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.95VES 2,199
$2.28COP 8,145
73.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.17VES 6,226
$10.64COP 38.0K
4.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52VES 848
$1.20COP 4,284
26.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02VES 1,125
$2.47COP 8,824
-18.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.86COP 3,056
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.40COP 147.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.08VES 2,828
$1.47COP 5,264
245.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.67VES 1,489
$1.96COP 7,009
36.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.03VES 5,586
$7.74COP 27.6K
29.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.48VES 269
$0.95COP 3,409
-49.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KVES 14.0M
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
38.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0KVES 22.3M
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
51.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$20.43VES 11.4K
$82.3COP 293.7K
-75.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.22VES 7,367
$9.50COP 33.9K
39.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56VES 22.0K
$24.23COP 86.5K
63.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.89COP 92.4K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00COP 67.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.86VES 3,266
$3.93COP 14.0K
49.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$132VES 73.3K
$309COP 1.1M
-57.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,504VES 3.1M
$5,965COP 21.3M
-7.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0VES 35.1K
$58.7COP 209.5K
7.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.73VES 21.6K
$32.35COP 115.5K
19.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104VES 57.7K
$103COP 366.4K
0.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116VES 64.8K
$108COP 387.2K
7.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$476COP 1.7M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$379COP 1.4M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$838COP 3.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$724COP 2.6M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,791COP 10.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$638VES 355.5K
$1,211COP 4.3M
-47.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Acarigua
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$512COP 1.8M
-
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 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 $282 vs $188 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 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,061 in Acarigua and $1,519 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 Medellin?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 50% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Acarigua vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $707 per month in Acarigua versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Acarigua or Medellin?
At $707 in Acarigua versus $1,013 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 43% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.