🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,354 in Acharnes versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,064 in Acharnes versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,774 in Acharnes versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Acharnes costs roughly 19% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Acharnes is 1% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.60€10.11
$8.02COP 25.0K
44.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.1€55.9
$47.87COP 149.4K
33.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.17€7.99
$9.89COP 30.8K
-7.28%
Cappuccino
$3.95€3.44
$3.13COP 9,767
26.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.10
$1.91COP 5,954
25.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60€0.52
$1.51COP 4,712
-60.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.61€4.02
$3.12COP 9,747
47.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34€4.65
$5.75COP 17.9K
-7.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60€1.39
$1.44COP 4,509
11.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44€1.26
$2.49COP 7,759
-42.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.48€2.16
$1.77COP 5,535
40.11%
Eggs
$5.04€4.40
$2.96COP 9,235
70.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.61€10.12
$10.07COP 31.4K
15.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.21€8.90
$10.12COP 31.6K
0.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.52€12.66
$14.30COP 44.6K
1.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30€2.00
$4.14COP 12.9K
-44.44%
Banana(1kg)
$2.31€2.02
$1.61COP 5,019
43.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77€1.54
$2.25COP 7,007
-21.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06€1.80
$2.25COP 7,028
-8.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18€1.03
$2.04COP 6,375
-42.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36€1.19
$1.54COP 4,790
-11.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88€0.77
$1.17COP 3,651
-24.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.77
$1.31COP 4,077
-32.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.62€4.02
$3.90COP 12.2K
18.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.01€6.11
$14.01COP 43.7K
-49.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73€1.51
$1.74COP 5,439
-0.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45€3.01
$2.87COP 8,956
20.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42€1.24
$1.22COP 3,792
16.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.48€37.03
$80.5COP 251.1K
-47.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58€4.00
$1.31COP 4,084
249.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.99
$2.19COP 6,825
-47.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.58€12.71
$8.71COP 27.2K
67.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22€1.93
$1.37COP 4,260
62.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K€25.2K
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
4.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K€21.1K
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-32.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142€124
$177COP 553.2K
-19.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.75€12.85
$13.88COP 43.3K
6.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.78€25.09
$29.72COP 92.8K
-3.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3€45.57
$44.88COP 140.1K
16.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.09€24.49
$17.12COP 53.4K
64.08%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€8.02
$6.65COP 20.7K
38.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$503€438
$813COP 2.5M
-38.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,689€4,088
$9,187COP 28.7M
-48.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.27€20.28
$89.5COP 279.3K
-74.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.85€32.12
$59.0COP 184.0K
-37.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.0€61.0
$138COP 431.2K
-49.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112€97.6
$102COP 318.7K
9.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$494€430
$1,062COP 3.3M
-53.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$409€357
$663COP 2.1M
-38.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$763€666
$1,888COP 5.9M
-59.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623€543
$1,027COP 3.2M
-39.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,376€2,071
$4,183COP 13.1M
-43.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,599€2,266
$1,675COP 5.2M
55.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$999€871
$678COP 2.1M
47.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.36
10.94
-60.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Acharnes: September 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $494 in Acharnes and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Acharnes pays 47% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $64.0 in Acharnes vs $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $283 vs $305, with Acharnes cheaper for home cooking.
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?
Acharnes is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Acharnes or Medellin?
Average pay runs 47% 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: $494 in Acharnes versus $1,062 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 8% higher in Medellin. 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 Acharnes – a meal for two runs $64.0 versus $48.00 in Medellin. 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 $1,354 in Acharnes versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Acharnes but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Acharnes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Acharnes or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Acharnes 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 Acharnes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.