Cost of Living Comparison Between Aja and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Aja and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $450 per month in Aja vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $718 per month in Aja vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $987 per month in Aja vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Aja is about 74% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Aja sits 67% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aja
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.21 E£214
$8.03 COP 25.0K
-47.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.85 E£705
$48.26 COP 150.6K
-71.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.83 E£246
$9.77 COP 30.5K
-50.56%
Cappuccino
$1.48 E£75.4
$2.91 COP 9,085
-49.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 E£18.83
$1.94 COP 6,067
-80.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14 E£7.17
$1.52 COP 4,749
-90.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.29 E£65.6
$3.09 COP 9,653
-58.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 E£144
$5.74 COP 17.9K
-50.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aja
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.98 E£49.99
$1.36 COP 4,257
-27.94%
White Bread (500g)
$0.61 E£30.98
$2.39 COP 7,452
-74.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.73 E£37.24
$1.70 COP 5,308
-57.06%
Eggs
$1.41 E£71.6
$2.87 COP 8,957
-50.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.32 E£169
$9.94 COP 31.0K
-66.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.06 E£206
$10.78 COP 33.7K
-62.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.03 E£459
$14.73 COP 46.0K
-38.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.70 E£86.4
$4.09 COP 12.8K
-58.44%
Banana (1kg)
$0.77 E£39.24
$1.57 COP 4,906
-50.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.51 E£25.84
$2.13 COP 6,635
-76.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.40 E£20.15
$2.21 COP 6,910
-81.90%
Potato (1kg)
$0.37 E£18.65
$2.05 COP 6,389
-81.95%
Onion (1kg)
$0.32 E£16.52
$1.50 COP 4,695
-78.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.27 E£13.70
$1.19 COP 3,714
-77.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22 E£11.11
$1.16 COP 3,615
-81.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 E£114
$3.90 COP 12.2K
-42.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.44 E£379
$14.44 COP 45.1K
-48.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 E£63.5
$1.58 COP 4,943
-20.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 E£124
$2.83 COP 8,826
-14.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Aja
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.21 E£10.63
$1.17 COP 3,646
-82.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$77.7 COP 242.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.37 E£18.90
$1.28 COP 4,009
-71.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 E£11.91
$2.09 COP 6,530
-89.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.70 E£86.7
$8.62 COP 26.9K
-80.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.43 E£21.63
$1.30 COP 4,052
-66.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K E£1.8M
$27.7K COP 86.3M
24.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K E£1.4M
$35.5K COP 110.8M
-20.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aja
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$17.64 E£897
$176 COP 549.6K
-89.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.84 E£348
$13.37 COP 41.7K
-48.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.08 E£665
$29.89 COP 93.3K
-56.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aja
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.88 E£1,011
$44.76 COP 139.7K
-55.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.06 COP 53.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.85 E£145
$6.20 COP 19.4K
-54.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aja
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.5 E£4,808
$793 COP 2.5M
-88.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,692 E£86.1K
$9,019 COP 28.2M
-81.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aja
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.16 E£873
$85.6 COP 267.2K
-79.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.94 E£2,540
$58.5 COP 182.5K
-14.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 E£5,165
$136 COP 425.4K
-25.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.06 E£2,495
$103 COP 321.8K
-52.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aja
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$129 E£6,539
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-87.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$79.7 E£4,053
$680 COP 2.1M
-88.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$279 E£14.2K
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-86.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$144 E£7,341
$1,169 COP 3.6M
-87.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$856 E£43.6K
$4,111 COP 12.8M
-79.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$413 E£21.0K
$1,701 COP 5.3M
-75.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aja
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$665 COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.21
10.94
48.17%

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

Last update for Aja: August 29, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $129 in Aja versus $1,060 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Aja versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $130 vs $303 – making Aja 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
Aja vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Aja or Medellin?
Medellin costs about 281% more than Aja, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Aja and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $675 per month in Aja and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Aja or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aja, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Aja compared to Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $450 in Aja and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Aja and in Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $94.5 per month in Aja and $793 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Aja or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Aja, where all-in costs run around $450, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Aja it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Aja or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Aja costs $450 versus $1,716 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Aja or to Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Aja. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Aja vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities