😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,634 in Altamura versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,472 in Altamura versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Altamura versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Altamura is roughly 59% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Altamura is 22% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.70€15.50
$6.16COP 20.1K
187.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.5€61.7
$32.60COP 106.1K
116.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65€10.21
$7.34COP 23.9K
58.72%
Cappuccino
$1.18€1.03
$1.72COP 5,599
-31.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79€1.57
$1.05COP 3,420
70.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13€0.99
$0.77COP 2,515
46.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.71€4.12
$1.69COP 5,487
178.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56€3.99
$3.17COP 10.3K
43.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.02€1.77
$1.05COP 3,423
92.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.74€1.52
$1.30COP 4,236
33.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.83€2.48
$1.40COP 4,544
102.14%
Eggs
$4.20€3.68
$2.16COP 7,046
94.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.92€6.93
$4.39COP 14.3K
80.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11€8.86
$5.88COP 19.1K
71.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.31€14.28
$8.64COP 28.1K
88.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30€2.01
$2.28COP 7,425
0.88%
Banana(1kg)
$2.25€1.97
$1.11COP 3,603
102.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$1.53COP 4,982
69.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.72€3.26
$1.35COP 4,410
175.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.68
$1.13COP 3,674
69.91%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91€0.80
$1.13COP 3,692
-19.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.27
$0.85COP 2,753
69.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42€0.37
$0.91COP 2,975
-53.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.48€5.67
$2.34COP 7,629
176.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69€6.73
$12.37COP 40.3K
-37.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.75€2.41
$1.20COP 3,909
129.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33€2.92
$2.49COP 8,104
33.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.76€1.54
$0.84COP 2,727
109.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.71€38.28
$40.57COP 132.1K
7.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.76€5.05
$1.42COP 4,623
305.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.10€1.84
$1.92COP 6,235
9.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.80€30.48
$7.66COP 24.9K
354.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09€1.83
$0.99COP 3,223
111.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K€23.3K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
47.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.3K€11.6K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-50.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€165
$80.8COP 263.1K
133.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.36€11.70
$9.95COP 32.4K
34.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.54€20.61
$24.18COP 78.7K
-2.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.7€47.88
$25.08COP 81.6K
117.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.76€19.94
$19.15COP 62.3K
18.85%
Cinema Ticket
$5.84€5.11
$3.98COP 13.0K
46.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$384€336
$305COP 993.4K
25.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,067€5,314
$6,059COP 19.7M
0.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€90.2
$58.1COP 189.2K
77.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.63€39.09
$32.20COP 104.8K
38.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€89.2
$101COP 327.9K
1.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147€129
$108COP 350.8K
36.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$763€668
$477COP 1.6M
60.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$582€510
$376COP 1.2M
54.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,205€1,055
$845COP 2.7M
42.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$918€804
$730COP 2.4M
25.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,939€2,574
$3,215COP 10.5M
-8.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,233€1,955
$1,372COP 4.5M
62.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Altamura
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,736€1,520
$617COP 2.0M
181.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.04
13.43
-69.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Altamura: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $763 in Altamura and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Altamura pays 181% 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: $70.0 in Altamura vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 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
Altamura vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Altamura?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Altamura or Medellin?
Average pay runs 181% 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: $763 in Altamura versus $477 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 54% 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 $33.00 versus $70.0 in Altamura. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Altamura or in Medellin?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,634 in Altamura, a $1,500 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 59% less than in Altamura. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.