😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,639 in Alcabideche versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,422 in Alcabideche versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,205 in Alcabideche versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Alcabideche is roughly 59% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Alcabideche is 23% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alcabideche
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.79€11.19
$6.16COP 20.1K
107.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.5€45.03
$32.60COP 106.1K
57.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.06€7.92
$7.34COP 23.9K
23.43%
Cappuccino
$2.25€1.97
$1.72COP 5,600
30.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.54
$1.05COP 3,420
67.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17€1.02
$0.77COP 2,515
51.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28€2.00
$1.69COP 5,488
34.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49€3.06
$3.17COP 10.3K
10.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alcabideche
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03€0.90
$1.05COP 3,423
-1.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.24€1.09
$1.30COP 4,236
-4.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62€1.41
$1.40COP 4,544
15.71%
Eggs
$3.26€2.85
$2.16COP 7,047
50.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.14€7.99
$4.39COP 14.3K
108.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.59€6.64
$5.88COP 19.1K
29.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.44€16.13
$8.64COP 28.1K
113.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09€2.70
$2.28COP 7,426
35.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41€1.23
$1.11COP 3,604
27.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$1.53COP 4,983
11.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.37€2.08
$1.35COP 4,410
75.56%
Potato(1kg)
$2.10€1.84
$1.13COP 3,674
85.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.86
$1.13COP 3,692
87.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62€1.42
$0.85COP 2,753
90.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71€0.62
$0.91COP 2,975
-21.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85€5.12
$2.34COP 7,630
150.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.37€2.95
$12.37COP 40.3K
-72.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30€1.13
$1.20COP 3,909
8.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.18
$2.49COP 8,104
-
🚌 Getting Around
Alcabideche
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.26€1.97
$0.84COP 2,728
169.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.57€37.24
$40.57COP 132.1K
4.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.67€3.21
$1.42COP 4,623
158.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84€0.74
$1.92COP 6,235
-56.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.69€15.48
$7.66COP 24.9K
130.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90€1.66
$0.99COP 3,223
91.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.6K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
94.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.7K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
48.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alcabideche
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103€89.8
$80.8COP 263.1K
27.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.14€18.50
$9.95COP 32.4K
112.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.97€37.59
$24.18COP 78.7K
77.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alcabideche
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.31€37.89
$25.08COP 81.7K
72.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.15COP 62.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.17€7.15
$3.98COP 13.0K
105.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alcabideche
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$649€567
$305COP 993.5K
112.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,220€6,317
$6,059COP 19.7M
19.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alcabideche
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$115€100
$58.1COP 189.2K
97.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.08€29.81
$32.20COP 104.8K
5.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.4€77.4
$101COP 327.9K
-12.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107€93.3
$108COP 350.8K
-1.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alcabideche
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$916€801
$477COP 1.6M
92.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$734€642
$376COP 1.2M
95.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,495€1,308
$845COP 2.7M
76.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,156€1,012
$730COP 2.4M
58.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,196€2,797
$3,215COP 10.5M
-0.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,308€2,019
$1,372COP 4.5M
68.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alcabideche
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,121€981
$617COP 2.0M
81.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.01
13.43
-62.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alcabideche: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $916 in Alcabideche and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Alcabideche pays 82% 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: $51.0 in Alcabideche vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $193 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
Alcabideche vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Alcabideche or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 59% lower than in Alcabideche. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Alcabideche or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 82% higher in Alcabideche, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Alcabideche compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $916 in Alcabideche versus $477 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 Alcabideche compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,639 per month in Alcabideche versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Alcabideche compared to Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 5% less than in Alcabideche. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Alcabideche or in Medellin?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,639 in Alcabideche, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Alcabideche. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Alcabideche or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,031 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Alcabideche compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Alcabideche and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Alcabideche. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Alcabideche vs other spots: cost of living compared