😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,327 in Acharnes versus $1,003 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,045 in Acharnes versus $1,573 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,763 in Acharnes versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Acharnes is roughly 32% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Acharnes is 0% above, Medellin is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.04€11.30
$5.91COP 18.6K
120.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.9€50.2
$32.96COP 103.8K
75.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.45€8.19
$7.43COP 23.4K
27.19%
Cappuccino
$4.14€3.59
$1.65COP 5,207
150.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65€1.43
$1.10COP 3,468
50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59€0.51
$0.78COP 2,458
-24.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.68€4.92
$1.72COP 5,412
230.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90€5.11
$3.18COP 10.0K
85.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51€1.31
$1.10COP 3,474
37.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.58€1.37
$1.26COP 3,962
25.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13€1.84
$1.38COP 4,349
54.35%
Eggs
$4.20€3.63
$2.18COP 6,858
92.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.95€12.08
$4.49COP 14.1K
210.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.64€8.34
$5.79COP 18.2K
66.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25€11.48
$8.97COP 28.2K
47.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38€2.06
$2.32COP 7,308
2.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.95€1.69
$1.06COP 3,352
83.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.09€0.94
$1.52COP 4,774
-28.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.95€1.69
$1.36COP 4,270
43.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11€0.96
$1.13COP 3,552
-1.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22€1.06
$1.17COP 3,689
4.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03€0.89
$0.90COP 2,838
14.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49€0.42
$0.90COP 2,823
-45.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.73€4.10
$2.23COP 7,034
112.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.87€5.95
$12.12COP 38.2K
-43.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67€1.45
$1.19COP 3,743
40.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.05
$2.48COP 7,815
-4.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.57€1.36
$0.85COP 2,687
84.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.71€39.58
$41.62COP 131.0K
9.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.21€6.25
$1.42COP 4,459
407.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06€0.92
$1.95COP 6,141
-45.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.41€11.62
$7.89COP 24.8K
69.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12€1.83
$0.99COP 3,118
114.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K€30.1K
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
97.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K€25.5K
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
9.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$144€125
$83.0COP 261.4K
74.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.17€13.13
$9.70COP 30.5K
56.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.13€26.96
$23.52COP 74.1K
32.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.11€41.66
$25.26COP 79.5K
90.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.95€22.47
$19.10COP 60.1K
35.86%
Cinema Ticket
$9.74€8.44
$3.95COP 12.4K
146.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$524€454
$316COP 994.2K
65.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,621€4,868
$5,975COP 18.8M
-5.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.46€20.32
$60.0COP 188.9K
-60.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.83€33.63
$31.82COP 100.2K
22.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.3€60.9
$102COP 320.1K
-30.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.7€81.1
$107COP 338.3K
-12.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$493€427
$475COP 1.5M
3.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$390€338
$374COP 1.2M
4.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$759€657
$849COP 2.7M
-10.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$624€541
$719COP 2.3M
-13.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,048€2,640
$3,265COP 10.3M
-6.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,710€2,347
$1,441COP 4.5M
88.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,007€872
$624COP 2.0M
61.33%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $493 in Acharnes and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Acharnes pays 61% 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: $58.0 in Acharnes vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 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
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 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Acharnes or Medellin?
Average pay runs 61% higher in Acharnes, 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: $493 in Acharnes versus $475 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 in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Acharnes. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Acharnes or in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $58.0 in Acharnes. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Acharnes or in Medellin?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,327 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 32% less than in Acharnes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.