😐A single person spends $1,703 per month in Ancona vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,567 per month in Ancona vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,431 per month in Ancona vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Ancona costs about 70% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Ancona sits 28% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ancona
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.90€16.48
$5.91COP 18.9K
219.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.7€69.5
$32.96COP 105.2K
141.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.49€10.02
$7.43COP 23.7K
54.64%
Cappuccino
$2.08€1.82
$1.65COP 5,276
26.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.34
$1.10COP 3,514
143.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41€1.23
$0.78COP 2,491
80.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.96€5.20
$1.72COP 5,484
246.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72€4.99
$3.18COP 10.1K
79.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ancona
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20€1.04
$1.10COP 3,521
9.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.36€2.06
$1.26COP 4,015
87.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.14€1.86
$1.38COP 4,407
55.07%
Eggs
$2.92€2.54
$2.18COP 6,950
33.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.79€13.77
$4.49COP 14.3K
251.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.86€9.47
$5.79COP 18.5K
87.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.62€18.85
$8.97COP 28.6K
141.03%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36€2.06
$2.32COP 7,405
1.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52€1.33
$1.06COP 3,397
43.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.57€2.24
$1.52COP 4,838
69.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.08€2.69
$1.36COP 4,327
126.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61€1.40
$1.13COP 3,599
42.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.67€1.46
$1.17COP 3,738
42.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53€1.34
$0.90COP 2,876
70.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48€0.42
$0.90COP 2,861
-46.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78€5.91
$2.23COP 7,128
204.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.85€5.10
$12.12COP 38.7K
-51.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60€1.40
$1.19COP 3,793
34.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20€1.91
$2.48COP 7,920
-11.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Ancona
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.76€1.54
$0.85COP 2,723
107.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.61€35.41
$41.62COP 132.8K
-2.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.83€5.08
$1.42COP 4,518
310.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54€1.34
$1.95COP 6,223
-21.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.39€24.75
$7.89COP 25.2K
259.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.01€1.75
$0.99COP 3,160
103.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K€23.7K
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
54.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K€24.0K
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
2.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ancona
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$284€248
$83.0COP 264.9K
242.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.65€12.77
$9.70COP 30.9K
51.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.45€32.65
$23.52COP 75.0K
59.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ancona
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.7€57.3
$25.26COP 80.6K
160.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.51€17.88
$19.10COP 60.9K
7.38%
Cinema Ticket
$11.39€9.93
$3.95COP 12.6K
188.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ancona
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299€261
$316COP 1.0M
-5.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,035€7,005
$5,975COP 19.1M
34.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ancona
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.7€80.0
$60.0COP 191.4K
52.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.19€28.93
$31.82COP 101.5K
4.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.1€80.3
$102COP 324.4K
-9.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€104
$107COP 342.8K
10.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ancona
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$611€533
$475COP 1.5M
28.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$487€424
$374COP 1.2M
30.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$947€826
$849COP 2.7M
11.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716€625
$719COP 2.3M
-0.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,096€2,699
$3,265COP 10.4M
-5.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,069€1,803
$1,441COP 4.6M
43.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ancona
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,734€1,512
$624COP 2.0M
177.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.9
13.43
-70.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ancona: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $611 in Ancona versus $475 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 178% higher in Ancona, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Ancona versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $313 vs $193 – making Medellin 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
Ancona vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Ancona?
Yes – Ancona is pricier by about 70%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,555 per month in Ancona and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 2% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Ancona and $316 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ancona or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Ancona at $1,703. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ancona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ancona or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ancona or Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ancona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.