🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $665 in Aguilares versus $1,017 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,052 in Aguilares versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,438 in Aguilares versus $2,188 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Aguilares costs roughly 35% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Aguilares51% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aguilares
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.57$2.57
$5.95COP 20.8K
-56.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.11$12.11
$33.33COP 116.3K
-63.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.17$7.17
$7.23COP 25.2K
-0.83%
Cappuccino
$3.30$3.30
$1.63COP 5,687
102.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89$0.89
$1.09COP 3,821
-18.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51$0.51
$0.73COP 2,548
-30.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.48$1.48
$1.74COP 6,065
-14.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44$2.44
$3.23COP 11.3K
-24.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aguilares
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.86$1.86
$1.05COP 3,662
77.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.97$1.97
$1.29COP 4,515
52.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56$1.56
$1.32COP 4,617
18.18%
Eggs
$1.84$1.84
$2.27COP 7,927
-18.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.16$7.16
$4.35COP 15.2K
64.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.32$4.32
$5.88COP 20.5K
-26.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.70$10.70
$8.61COP 30.0K
24.27%
Apples(1kg)
$3.20$3.20
$2.25COP 7,844
42.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70$1.70
$1.07COP 3,733
58.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15$2.15
$1.52COP 5,322
41.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.65$2.65
$1.42COP 4,964
86.62%
Potato(1kg)
$2.22$2.22
$1.17COP 4,084
89.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19$2.19
$1.17COP 4,077
87.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96$0.96
$0.89COP 3,096
7.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03$1.03
$0.90COP 3,146
14.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.88$3.88
$2.25COP 7,837
72.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.87$11.87
$11.04COP 38.5K
7.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54$1.54
$1.14COP 3,977
35.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40$2.40
$2.38COP 8,301
0.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Aguilares
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48$0.48
$0.84COP 2,916
-42.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.1$65.1
$41.95COP 146.4K
55.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.57$5.57
$1.41COP 4,912
295.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.98$2.98
$1.90COP 6,634
56.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.77$19.77
$7.75COP 27.0K
155.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01$1.01
$1.01COP 3,509
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K$17.7K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
0.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K$19.7K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-25.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aguilares
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$27.68$27.68
$83.7COP 292.1K
-66.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.92$18.92
$9.45COP 33.0K
100.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.08$35.08
$24.11COP 84.1K
45.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aguilares
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.87$19.87
$25.31COP 88.3K
-21.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.90$19.90
$19.14COP 66.8K
3.97%
Cinema Ticket
$3.45$3.45
$4.10COP 14.3K
-15.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aguilares
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$144$144
$312COP 1.1M
-53.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,846$5,846
$5,993COP 20.9M
-2.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aguilares
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.23$25.23
$58.0COP 202.6K
-56.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.42$28.42
$32.56COP 113.6K
-12.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116$116
$99.6COP 347.7K
16.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107$107
$109COP 378.8K
-1.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aguilares
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$75.3$75.3
$482COP 1.7M
-84.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$379COP 1.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$837COP 2.9M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$723COP 2.5M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aguilares
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.58
13.43
-36.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aguilares: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.3 in Aguilares and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Aguilares vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $239 vs $190, with Medellin 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
Aguilares vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aguilares or Medellin?
Aguilares wins on cost – living expenses run 53% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Aguilares the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Aguilares vs Medellin?
You'd need roughly $997 in Aguilares and $1,525 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Aguilares vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $75.3 in Aguilares versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Aguilares compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $665 per month in Aguilares versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Aguilares vs Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Aguilares runs roughly 55% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Aguilares or Medellin?
At $665 in Aguilares versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Aguilares but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Aguilares the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Aguilares or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Aguilares delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $665 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Aguilares hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Aguilares gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.