😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,420 in Amarante versus $1,034 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,005 in Amarante versus $1,577 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,589 in Amarante versus $2,120 in Medellin.
😐Living in Amarante is roughly 37% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Amarante is 6% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Amarante
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.56€5.60
$5.92COP 21.5K
10.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.10€19.73
$32.75COP 119.1K
-29.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.58€5.62
$7.20COP 26.2K
-8.61%
Cappuccino
$0.89€0.76
$1.70COP 6,186
-47.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58€1.35
$1.10COP 3,996
43.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.22
$0.72COP 2,625
98.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.25€1.07
$1.67COP 6,067
-25.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47€1.25
$3.10COP 11.3K
-52.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Amarante
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10€0.94
$1.06COP 3,837
3.77%
White Bread(500g)
$0.74€0.63
$1.25COP 4,531
-40.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25€1.07
$1.39COP 5,060
-10.07%
Eggs
$3.02€2.58
$2.26COP 8,229
33.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.25€9.61
$4.33COP 15.8K
159.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.60€2.22
$5.84COP 21.2K
-55.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.14€2.68
$8.83COP 32.1K
-64.44%
Apples(1kg)
$1.59€1.36
$2.24COP 8,159
-29.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54€1.31
$1.08COP 3,911
42.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.53COP 5,563
12.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.92€2.49
$1.37COP 4,987
113.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33€1.13
$1.13COP 4,109
17.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.86€1.59
$1.12COP 4,067
66.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29€1.10
$0.85COP 3,080
51.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91€0.78
$0.91COP 3,305
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.11€5.22
$2.33COP 8,477
162.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.19€5.28
$11.13COP 40.5K
-44.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15€0.98
$1.19COP 4,342
-3.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73€2.33
$2.37COP 8,617
15.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Amarante
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.94
$0.79COP 2,859
187.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.80€36.55
$41.13COP 149.6K
4.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28€1.09
$1.44COP 5,223
-11.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14€0.97
$1.91COP 6,952
-40.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.26€12.18
$8.02COP 29.2K
77.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96€1.68
$0.94COP 3,410
108.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K€11.8K
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
-22.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K€23.9K
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
4.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Amarante
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$133€114
$84.0COP 305.4K
58.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.04€17.97
$9.60COP 34.9K
119.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.80€35.70
$24.16COP 87.9K
73.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Amarante
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.77€37.38
$25.88COP 94.1K
69.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04COP 69.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.42€7.19
$3.92COP 14.2K
114.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Amarante
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$343€293
$306COP 1.1M
11.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,172€6,979
$5,919COP 21.5M
38.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Amarante
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.7€58.6
$57.9COP 210.6K
18.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.75€28.82
$31.82COP 115.7K
6.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.3€58.4
$99.9COP 363.3K
-31.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.8€69.0
$107COP 389.7K
-24.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Amarante
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$935€799
$487COP 1.8M
92.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$741€633
$368COP 1.3M
101.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,478€1,262
$826COP 3.0M
78.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,177€1,005
$716COP 2.6M
64.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,892€2,470
$2,925COP 10.6M
-1.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,307€1,971
$1,407COP 5.1M
64.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Amarante
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,042€890
$546COP 2.0M
91.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.43
13.43
-59.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Amarante: April 28, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $935 in Amarante and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amarante pays 91% 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: $23.00 in Amarante vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $178 vs $190 per month, with Amarante 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
Amarante vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Amarante and Medellin?
Amarante and Medellin differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($1,420 vs $1,034 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Amarante or Medellin?
Amarante pays 91% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Amarante and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $935 in Amarante versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Amarante and Medellin?
Childcare runs $343 in Amarante versus $306 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Amarante pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,420 in Amarante, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Amarante. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Amarante and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Amarante or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Amarante 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.
Where should expats move: Amarante or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Amarante. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.