Cost of Living Comparison Between Acton, MA and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Acton, MA and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,699 per month in Acton, MA vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,027 per month in Acton, MA vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,354 per month in Acton, MA vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Acton, MA costs about 162% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Acton, MA sits 102% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.03 $19.03

$6.16 COP 20.1K

208.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$102 $102

$32.60 COP 106.1K

211.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.74 $13.74

$7.34 COP 23.9K

87.19%

Cappuccino

$4.38 $4.38

$1.72 COP 5,600

154.65%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 $2.68

$1.05 COP 3,420

155.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$0.77 COP 2,515

171.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 $6.09

$1.69 COP 5,488

260.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.47 $7.47

$3.17 COP 10.3K

135.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.05 COP 3,423

11.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.38 $3.38

$1.30 COP 4,236

160.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.05 $3.05

$1.40 COP 4,544

117.86%

Eggs

$6.32 $6.32

$2.16 COP 7,047

192.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.55 $10.55

$4.39 COP 14.3K

140.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.68 $9.68

$5.88 COP 19.1K

64.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.51 $21.51

$8.64 COP 28.1K

148.96%

Apples (1kg)

$5.50 $5.50

$2.28 COP 7,426

141.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.11 COP 3,604

93.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 $5.87

$1.53 COP 4,983

283.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.98 $5.98

$1.35 COP 4,410

342.96%

Potato (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$1.13 COP 3,674

282.30%

Onion (1kg)

$4.52 $4.52

$1.13 COP 3,692

300.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 $3.19

$0.85 COP 2,753

275.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 $2.24

$0.91 COP 2,975

146.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.89 $10.89

$2.34 COP 7,630

365.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.68 $10.68

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-13.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.20 COP 3,909

80.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 $1.47

$2.49 COP 8,104

-40.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$0.84 COP 2,728

144.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.10 $4.10

$1.42 COP 4,623

188.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.92 COP 6,235

-11.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.13 $29.13

$7.66 COP 24.9K

280.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$0.99 COP 3,223

-16.16%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K $29.7K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

64.70%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K $26.4K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

-0.77%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$313 $313

$80.8 COP 263.1K

287.35%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$69.1 $69.1

$9.95 COP 32.4K

594.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 $66.0

$24.18 COP 78.7K

173.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.91 $24.91

$25.08 COP 81.7K

-0.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$12.81 $12.81

$3.98 COP 13.0K

221.86%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,526 $1,526

$305 COP 993.5K

399.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.1K $23.1K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

281.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.6 $52.6

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-9.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.46 $32.46

$32.20 COP 104.8K

0.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.7 $66.7

$101 COP 327.9K

-33.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.1 $82.1

$108 COP 350.8K

-23.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,505 $3,505

$477 COP 1.6M

635.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,329 $1,329

$376 COP 1.2M

253.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,617 $2,617

$845 COP 2.7M

209.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,177 $4,177

$730 COP 2.4M

471.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,935 $8,935

$617 COP 2.0M

1348.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.61

13.43

-50.78%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Acton, MA: July 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,505 in Acton, MA versus $477 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1349% higher in Acton, MA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $102 in Acton, MA versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $418 vs $193 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Acton, MA vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Acton, MA costs about 162% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,049 per month in Acton, MA and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,699 in Acton, MA and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,526 per month in Acton, MA and $305 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Acton, MA at $2,699. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Acton, MA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,031 versus $2,699 in Acton, MA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Acton, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.