Cost of Living Comparison Between Assela and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Assela and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $817 in Assela versus $1,031 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,242 in Assela versus $1,599 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,667 in Assela versus $2,167 in Medellin.

Living in Assela costs roughly 21% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Assela 39% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.59 ETB 727

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-25.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.32 ETB 5,599

$32.60 COP 106.1K

8.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.54 ETB 1,036

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-10.90%

Cappuccino

$1.30 ETB 205

$1.72 COP 5,600

-24.42%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ETB 110

$1.05 COP 3,420

-34.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ETB 74.2

$0.77 COP 2,515

-38.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 ETB 160

$1.69 COP 5,488

-40.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ETB 488

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-2.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ETB 219

$1.05 COP 3,423

31.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 ETB 210

$1.30 COP 4,236

1.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 ETB 336

$1.40 COP 4,544

51.43%

Eggs

$2.49 ETB 395

$2.16 COP 7,047

15.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.98 ETB 1,106

$4.39 COP 14.3K

59.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.67 ETB 2,166

$5.88 COP 19.1K

132.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.17 ETB 2,087

$8.64 COP 28.1K

52.43%

Apples (1kg)

$6.72 ETB 1,064

$2.28 COP 7,426

194.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ETB 161

$1.11 COP 3,604

-8.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ETB 360

$1.53 COP 4,983

48.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.99 ETB 157

$1.35 COP 4,410

-26.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 ETB 108

$1.13 COP 3,674

-39.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 ETB 304

$1.13 COP 3,692

69.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 ETB 109

$0.85 COP 2,753

-18.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ETB 108

$0.91 COP 2,975

-25.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.95 ETB 626

$2.34 COP 7,630

68.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.66 ETB 897

$12.37 COP 40.3K

-54.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ETB 157

$1.20 COP 3,909

-17.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ETB 291

$2.49 COP 8,104

-26.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,728

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ETB 225

$1.42 COP 4,623

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 ETB 46.54

$1.92 COP 6,235

-84.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 ETB 325

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-73.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 ETB 206

$0.99 COP 3,223

31.31%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$54.0K ETB 8.6M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

199.52%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$53.8K ETB 8.5M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

102.11%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$157 ETB 24.9K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

94.32%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.04 ETB 1,909

$9.95 COP 32.4K

21.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$129 ETB 20.5K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

434.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$5.76 ETB 914

$3.98 COP 13.0K

44.72%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$80.2 ETB 12.7K

$305 COP 993.5K

-73.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$39.8K ETB 6.3M

$6,059 COP 19.7M

556.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.74 ETB 7,409

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-19.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.9 ETB 11.7K

$32.20 COP 104.8K

129.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.5 ETB 15.0K

$101 COP 327.9K

-6.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 ETB 17.8K

$108 COP 350.8K

4.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

26.58%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Assela: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $35.00 in Assela vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $265 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

Assela vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Assela is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,225 in Assela and $1,546 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $80.2 in Assela versus $305 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Assela – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $817 in Assela versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Assela but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Assela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Assela is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Assela 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.

Expats usually find Assela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.