Cost of Living Comparison Between Asuncion and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Asuncion and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,046 per month in Asuncion vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,627 per month in Asuncion vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,208 per month in Asuncion vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Asuncion is about 36% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Asuncion sits 24% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.94 ₲41.0K

$8.04 COP 24.8K

-13.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.46 ₲244.8K

$48.29 COP 148.6K

-14.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.63 ₲39.2K

$9.42 COP 29.0K

-29.62%

Cappuccino

$3.21 ₲18.9K

$2.94 COP 9,040

9.18%

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

$1.10 ₲6,501

$1.86 COP 5,735

-40.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₲3,736

$1.46 COP 4,479

-56.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 ₲11.6K

$3.21 COP 9,882

-38.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ₲11.0K

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-67.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 ₲7,176

$1.44 COP 4,428

-15.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ₲8,359

$2.40 COP 7,389

-40.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ₲7,843

$1.70 COP 5,228

-21.76%

Eggs

$2.38 ₲14.1K

$2.89 COP 8,896

-17.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.46 ₲55.8K

$10.06 COP 30.9K

-5.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.15 ₲30.4K

$9.97 COP 30.7K

-48.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.06 ₲59.4K

$14.20 COP 43.7K

-29.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 ₲16.7K

$3.98 COP 12.3K

-28.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 ₲7,518

$1.58 COP 4,878

-19.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 ₲6,946

$2.15 COP 6,624

-45.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.39 ₲14.1K

$2.30 COP 7,078

3.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ₲7,559

$2.00 COP 6,169

-36.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 ₲7,762

$1.51 COP 4,646

-13.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 ₲5,308

$1.20 COP 3,701

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₲4,046

$1.28 COP 3,946

-46.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 ₲13.5K

$3.84 COP 11.8K

-40.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.06 ₲53.5K

$14.01 COP 43.1K

-35.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ₲7,915

$1.71 COP 5,256

-21.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₲9,917

$2.74 COP 8,440

-38.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.56 ₲3,306

$1.25 COP 3,834

-55.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.60 ₲222.0K

$77.9 COP 239.7K

-51.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.40 ₲8,265

$1.31 COP 4,016

6.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 ₲8,757

$2.17 COP 6,680

-31.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.01 ₲59.1K

$8.29 COP 25.5K

20.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ₲6,848

$1.36 COP 4,172

-14.71%

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

$17.1K ₲100.9M

$27.5K COP 84.5M

-37.80%

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

$33.9K ₲200.0M

$36.5K COP 112.4M

-7.26%

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

$48.71 ₲287.6K

$169 COP 519.2K

-71.13%

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

$16.82 ₲99.3K

$13.57 COP 41.8K

23.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.36 ₲126.1K

$28.32 COP 87.2K

-24.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.51 ₲209.6K

$45.71 COP 140.7K

-22.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.52 ₲85.7K

$17.22 COP 53.0K

-15.68%

Cinema Ticket

$8.57 ₲50.6K

$6.65 COP 20.5K

28.87%

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

$180 ₲1.1M

$803 COP 2.5M

-77.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,747 ₲33.9M

$9,190 COP 28.3M

-37.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.2 ₲361.0K

$87.4 COP 268.8K

-30.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.9 ₲324.2K

$59.4 COP 182.7K

-7.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 ₲608.7K

$139 COP 427.5K

-25.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.3 ₲403.0K

$102 COP 314.0K

-33.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$624 ₲3.7M

$1,071 COP 3.3M

-41.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 ₲2.2M

$653 COP 2.0M

-42.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,028 ₲6.1M

$1,925 COP 5.9M

-46.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$635 ₲3.7M

$1,048 COP 3.2M

-39.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,715 ₲10.1M

$4,123 COP 12.7M

-58.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 ₲7.2M

$1,697 COP 5.2M

-27.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$713 ₲4.2M

$655 COP 2.0M

8.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.15

10.94

-7.22%

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

Last update for Asuncion: September 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $624 in Asuncion versus $1,071 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 9% higher in Asuncion, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Asuncion versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $300 – making Asuncion 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

Asuncion vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 57%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,570 per month in Asuncion and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Asuncion, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 107% less in Asuncion. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $180 per month in Asuncion and $803 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Asuncion, where all-in costs run around $1,046, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Asuncion it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Asuncion – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Asuncion. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.