😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,307 in Acharnes versus $1,017 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,988 in Acharnes versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,670 in Acharnes versus $2,188 in Medellin.
😐Living in Acharnes is roughly 29% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Acharnes3% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.12€11.30
$5.95COP 20.8K
120.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.6€49.63
$33.33COP 116.3K
72.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.20€7.92
$7.23COP 25.2K
27.25%
Cappuccino
$4.14€3.57
$1.63COP 5,687
153.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63€1.41
$1.09COP 3,821
49.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56€0.48
$0.73COP 2,548
-23.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.94€5.12
$1.74COP 6,065
241.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77€4.97
$3.23COP 11.3K
78.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46€1.26
$1.05COP 3,662
39.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62€1.40
$1.29COP 4,515
25.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20€1.90
$1.32COP 4,617
66.67%
Eggs
$4.18€3.60
$2.27COP 7,927
84.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.78€11.87
$4.35COP 15.2K
216.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.81€8.45
$5.88COP 20.5K
66.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.93€11.14
$8.61COP 30.0K
50.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28€1.96
$2.25COP 7,844
1.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.89€1.63
$1.07COP 3,733
76.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.08€0.93
$1.52COP 5,322
-28.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.95€1.68
$1.42COP 4,964
37.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12€0.97
$1.17COP 4,084
-4.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27€1.09
$1.17COP 4,077
8.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99€0.86
$0.89COP 3,096
11.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46€0.39
$0.90COP 3,146
-48.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.70€4.05
$2.25COP 7,837
108.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.34€5.46
$11.04COP 38.5K
-42.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68€1.45
$1.14COP 3,977
47.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44€2.10
$2.38COP 8,301
2.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.58€1.36
$0.84COP 2,916
88.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.49€39.20
$41.95COP 146.4K
8.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.25€6.24
$1.41COP 4,912
414.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07€0.92
$1.90COP 6,634
-43.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.76€11.86
$7.75COP 27.0K
77.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.80
$1.01COP 3,509
106.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K€29.5K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
94.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K€25.5K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
11.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143€123
$83.7COP 292.1K
70.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.85€12.79
$9.45COP 33.0K
57.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.61€27.23
$24.11COP 84.1K
31.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.91€41.28
$25.31COP 88.3K
89.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.70€23.01
$19.14COP 66.8K
39.50%
Cinema Ticket
$9.62€8.29
$4.10COP 14.3K
134.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$516€444
$312COP 1.1M
65.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,655€4,872
$5,993COP 20.9M
-5.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.84€19.68
$58.0COP 202.6K
-60.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.75€33.39
$32.56COP 113.6K
19.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.5€60.7
$99.6COP 347.7K
-29.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.5€81.4
$109COP 378.8K
-12.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487€420
$482COP 1.7M
1.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$382€330
$379COP 1.3M
0.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$778€670
$837COP 2.9M
-7.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$627€541
$723COP 2.5M
-13.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,721€2,345
$2,840COP 9.9M
-4.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,150€1,853
$1,223COP 4.3M
75.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Acharnes
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,012€872
$541COP 1.9M
87.18%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Acharnes and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Acharnes pays 87% 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 $264 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 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Acharnes or Medellin?
Acharnes pays 87% 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: $487 in Acharnes versus $482 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 39% 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 $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 Acharnes or Medellin?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,307 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 29% less than in Acharnes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.