😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,278 in Charleville versus $1,028 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,263 in Charleville versus $1,586 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,248 in Charleville versus $2,144 in Medellin.
😐Living in Charleville is roughly 122% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Charleville is 71% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.20A$22.93
$6.00COP 20.6K
170.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.6A$108
$32.84COP 112.5K
133.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.91A$14.02
$7.42COP 25.4K
33.56%
Cappuccino
$3.53A$4.99
$1.65COP 5,659
113.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58A$3.65
$1.07COP 3,663
141.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20A$3.11
$0.76COP 2,607
189.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.62A$9.36
$1.72COP 5,908
284.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.01A$9.92
$3.20COP 11.0K
119.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44A$2.04
$1.05COP 3,597
37.14%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33A$3.30
$1.31COP 4,479
77.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.04A$2.88
$1.34COP 4,591
52.24%
Eggs
$4.28A$6.05
$2.19COP 7,521
95.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.69A$12.29
$4.41COP 15.1K
97.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.36A$11.83
$5.69COP 19.5K
46.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.73A$19.42
$8.52COP 29.2K
61.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.32A$4.69
$2.34COP 8,023
41.88%
Banana(1kg)
$2.81A$3.98
$1.11COP 3,804
153.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.86A$4.05
$1.52COP 5,210
88.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.04A$5.72
$1.37COP 4,680
194.89%
Potato(1kg)
$2.43A$3.43
$1.15COP 3,950
111.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09A$2.95
$1.18COP 4,043
77.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.07A$2.94
$0.84COP 2,885
146.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58A$2.23
$0.86COP 2,931
83.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$31.38A$44.40
$2.26COP 7,753
1288.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.09A$18.51
$11.60COP 39.8K
12.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.63A$6.55
$1.20COP 4,109
285.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.32A$7.53
$2.48COP 8,484
114.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.54A$3.59
$0.79COP 2,721
221.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.6A$91.3
$40.83COP 139.9K
58.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.55A$5.02
$1.47COP 5,023
141.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.61A$2.28
$1.92COP 6,568
-16.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.05A$48.17
$7.77COP 26.6K
338.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15A$1.62
$1.01COP 3,464
13.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3KA$41.4K
$17.7KCOP 60.5M
65.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9KA$32.4K
$26.5KCOP 90.7M
-13.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$180A$254
$81.1COP 277.9K
121.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.75A$39.26
$9.43COP 32.3K
194.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.9A$74.8
$23.86COP 81.8K
121.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.46A$70.0
$25.99COP 89.1K
90.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.45A$21.86
$18.71COP 64.1K
-17.42%
Cinema Ticket
$12.93A$18.29
$4.09COP 14.0K
216.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,646A$2,329
$315COP 1.1M
423.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.0KA$17.0K
$6,022COP 20.6M
99.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.6A$97.0
$59.7COP 204.6K
14.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8A$71.8
$31.97COP 109.6K
58.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101A$143
$101COP 346.9K
-0.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106A$150
$105COP 360.3K
0.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,286A$1,819
$485COP 1.7M
164.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,069A$1,512
$365COP 1.3M
192.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,996A$2,824
$827COP 2.8M
141.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,667A$2,359
$730COP 2.5M
128.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,475A$9,161
$2,992COP 10.3M
116.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,120A$7,244
$1,314COP 4.5M
289.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$551COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
13.43
-52.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Charleville: June 16, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,286 in Charleville and $485 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $77.0 in Charleville vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $336 vs $190 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
Charleville vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Charleville?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 122% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,416 in Charleville and $1,542 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.
What is the rent difference between Charleville and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,286 in Charleville versus $485 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Charleville vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,278 per month in Charleville versus $1,028 in Medellin – a 122% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 58% less than in Charleville. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Charleville or Medellin?
At $1,028 in Medellin versus $2,278 in Charleville, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Charleville. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Charleville or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Charleville, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Charleville or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Charleville 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 122% less than in Charleville. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Charleville vs other spots: cost of living compared