😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,321 in Acharnes versus $1,034 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,019 in Acharnes versus $1,577 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,717 in Acharnes versus $2,120 in Medellin.
😐Living in Acharnes is roughly 28% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Acharnes1% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.24€11.31
$5.92COP 21.5K
123.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6€50.1
$32.75COP 119.1K
79.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.09€7.76
$7.20COP 26.2K
26.25%
Cappuccino
$4.00€3.42
$1.70COP 6,186
135.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63€1.40
$1.10COP 3,996
48.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56€0.47
$0.72COP 2,625
-22.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.67€4.84
$1.67COP 6,067
239.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72€4.89
$3.10COP 11.3K
84.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46€1.24
$1.06COP 3,837
37.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61€1.37
$1.25COP 4,531
28.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19€1.87
$1.39COP 5,060
57.55%
Eggs
$4.10€3.50
$2.26COP 8,229
81.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.80€11.79
$4.33COP 15.8K
218.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.86€8.42
$5.84COP 21.2K
68.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.28€11.34
$8.83COP 32.1K
50.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25€1.92
$2.24COP 8,159
0.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$1.08COP 3,911
79.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.08€0.92
$1.53COP 5,563
-29.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.93€1.65
$1.37COP 4,987
40.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12€0.95
$1.13COP 4,109
-0.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28€1.09
$1.12COP 4,067
14.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.00€0.85
$0.85COP 3,080
17.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48€0.41
$0.91COP 3,305
-47.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.68€4.00
$2.33COP 8,477
100.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.53€5.58
$11.13COP 40.5K
-41.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66€1.42
$1.19COP 4,342
39.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$2.37COP 8,617
-1.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.60€1.37
$0.79COP 2,859
102.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.63€38.97
$41.13COP 149.6K
10.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.03€6.00
$1.44COP 5,223
388.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.01€0.87
$1.91COP 6,952
-47.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.75€11.74
$8.02COP 29.2K
71.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.79
$0.94COP 3,410
122.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.0K
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
95.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K€25.7K
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
12.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143€122
$84.0COP 305.4K
70.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.29€13.06
$9.60COP 34.9K
59.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.00€26.48
$24.16COP 87.9K
28.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.17€41.99
$25.88COP 94.1K
89.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.03€22.23
$19.04COP 69.3K
36.71%
Cinema Ticket
$10.01€8.54
$3.92COP 14.2K
155.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$509€435
$306COP 1.1M
66.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,554€4,743
$5,919COP 21.5M
-6.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.95€19.60
$57.9COP 210.6K
-60.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.63€33.84
$31.82COP 115.7K
24.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.8€60.4
$99.9COP 363.3K
-29.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1€82.1
$107COP 389.7K
-10.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$499€426
$487COP 1.8M
2.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$392€335
$368COP 1.3M
6.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$778€664
$826COP 3.0M
-5.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$625€534
$716COP 2.6M
-12.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,075€2,626
$2,925COP 10.6M
5.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,423€2,069
$1,407COP 5.1M
72.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,015€867
$546COP 2.0M
86.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.34
13.43
-67.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Acharnes: April 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $499 in Acharnes and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Acharnes pays 86% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in Acharnes vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $265 vs $190 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
Acharnes vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Acharnes?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Acharnes or Medellin?
Acharnes pays 86% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Acharnes and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $499 in Acharnes versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Acharnes and Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Acharnes. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Acharnes or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $59.0 in Acharnes. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Acharnes or Medellin?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,321 in Acharnes, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Acharnes. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Acharnes or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Acharnes, 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 Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Acharnes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.