😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,793 in Altamura versus $1,641 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,695 in Altamura versus $2,447 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,597 in Altamura versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Altamura is roughly 9% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Altamura30% above, Medellin19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.55€15.13
$8.04COP 24.8K
118.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.9€71.4
$48.29COP 148.9K
71.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.42€9.84
$9.42COP 29.1K
21.23%
Cappuccino
$2.26€1.95
$2.94COP 9,056
-23.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.08
$1.86COP 5,745
29.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30€1.12
$1.46COP 4,487
-10.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.95€5.13
$3.21COP 9,899
85.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.08€4.38
$5.71COP 17.6K
-11.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90€1.64
$1.44COP 4,436
31.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.86€1.60
$2.40COP 7,401
-22.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.39€2.92
$1.70COP 5,237
99.41%
Eggs
$4.49€3.87
$2.89COP 8,911
55.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.49€14.21
$10.06COP 31.0K
63.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.89€11.11
$9.97COP 30.7K
29.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.92€18.03
$14.20COP 43.8K
47.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.48€2.14
$3.98COP 12.3K
-37.69%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07€1.78
$1.58COP 4,886
31.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41€2.08
$2.15COP 6,635
12.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.60€3.10
$2.30COP 7,090
56.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74€1.50
$2.00COP 6,179
-13.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.71€1.48
$1.51COP 4,654
13.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29€1.11
$1.20COP 3,707
7.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55€0.48
$1.28COP 3,953
-57.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.28€6.27
$3.84COP 11.8K
89.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.39€6.37
$14.01COP 43.2K
-47.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89€1.63
$1.71COP 5,265
10.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12€2.69
$2.74COP 8,454
13.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.73€1.49
$1.25COP 3,840
38.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.80€36.89
$77.9COP 240.2K
-45.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.55€3.92
$1.31COP 4,023
247.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.27€1.09
$2.17COP 6,692
-41.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.81€21.39
$8.29COP 25.6K
199.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10€1.81
$1.36COP 4,179
54.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K€32.1K
$27.5KCOP 84.7M
35.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0K€31.9K
$36.5KCOP 112.6M
1.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$207€178
$169COP 520.1K
22.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.06€8.67
$13.57COP 41.8K
-25.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.57€27.21
$28.32COP 87.3K
11.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.6€49.66
$45.71COP 140.9K
26.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.72€22.17
$17.22COP 53.1K
49.36%
Cinema Ticket
$11.60€10.00
$6.65COP 20.5K
74.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$467€402
$803COP 2.5M
-41.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,373€7,217
$9,190COP 28.3M
-8.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100€86.4
$87.4COP 269.3K
14.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.70€38.53
$59.4COP 183.0K
-24.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107€92.6
$139COP 428.2K
-22.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132€113
$102COP 314.6K
28.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$765€659
$1,071COP 3.3M
-28.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$591€509
$653COP 2.0M
-9.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,196€1,031
$1,925COP 5.9M
-37.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$907€782
$1,048COP 3.2M
-13.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,034€2,615
$4,123COP 12.7M
-26.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,097€1,807
$1,697COP 5.2M
23.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,812€1,562
$655COP 2.0M
176.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.09
10.94
-71.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Altamura: September 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $765 in Altamura and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Altamura pays 177% 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: $83.0 in Altamura vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $349 vs $300 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
Altamura vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Altamura?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Altamura or Medellin?
Average pay runs 177% higher in Altamura, 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 Altamura and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $765 in Altamura versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Altamura and in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Altamura. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Altamura or in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $83.0 in Altamura. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Altamura or in Medellin?
At $1,641 in Medellin versus $1,793 in Altamura, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Altamura. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Altamura or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Altamura, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Altamura or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Altamura 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Altamura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.