😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,628 in Charleville versus $1,681 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,773 in Charleville versus $2,445 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,918 in Charleville versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Charleville is roughly 56% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Charleville92% above, Medellin23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.01A$28.11
$8.02COP 25.3K
149.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$96.5A$136
$47.87COP 151.0K
101.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.19A$17.12
$9.89COP 31.2K
23.26%
Cappuccino
$3.59A$5.04
$3.13COP 9,873
14.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64A$3.71
$1.91COP 6,019
38.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43A$3.42
$1.51COP 4,763
60.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.69A$10.81
$3.12COP 9,853
146.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.90A$11.09
$5.75COP 18.1K
37.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53A$2.14
$1.44COP 4,558
6.25%
White Bread(500g)
$2.68A$3.77
$2.49COP 7,843
7.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.59A$3.65
$1.77COP 5,595
46.33%
Eggs
$5.34A$7.50
$2.96COP 9,336
80.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.21A$12.94
$10.07COP 31.8K
-8.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.81A$13.78
$10.12COP 31.9K
-3.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.28A$22.87
$14.30COP 45.1K
13.85%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18A$4.47
$4.14COP 13.0K
-23.19%
Banana(1kg)
$3.51A$4.93
$1.61COP 5,073
118.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.36A$4.72
$2.25COP 7,083
49.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.77A$6.70
$2.25COP 7,104
112.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.55A$3.58
$2.04COP 6,444
25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.77A$3.90
$1.54COP 4,842
79.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.27A$3.19
$1.17COP 3,691
94.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62A$2.27
$1.31COP 4,121
23.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$36.03A$50.6
$3.90COP 12.3K
823.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.80A$20.79
$14.01COP 44.2K
5.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.00A$7.02
$1.74COP 5,498
187.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.30A$8.85
$2.87COP 9,053
119.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92A$4.11
$1.22COP 3,834
139.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$96.5A$136
$80.5COP 253.9K
19.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.75A$5.27
$1.31COP 4,129
186.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.43A$2.01
$2.19COP 6,899
-34.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.20A$57.9
$8.71COP 27.5K
373.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21A$1.70
$1.37COP 4,306
-11.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5KA$41.5K
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
6.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1KA$49.3K
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
-1.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$199A$279
$177COP 559.3K
12.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.86A$41.96
$13.88COP 43.8K
115.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.0A$82.9
$29.72COP 93.8K
98.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.3A$87.5
$44.88COP 141.6K
38.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.29A$28.50
$17.12COP 54.0K
18.52%
Cinema Ticket
$15.95A$22.41
$6.65COP 21.0K
139.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,220A$3,119
$813COP 2.6M
173.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.9KA$32.2K
$9,187COP 29.0M
149.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.1A$120
$89.5COP 282.3K
-4.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4A$70.8
$59.0COP 186.0K
-14.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116A$163
$138COP 435.9K
-16.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115A$161
$102COP 322.1K
12.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,449A$2,035
$1,062COP 3.3M
36.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,127A$1,583
$663COP 2.1M
70.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,254A$3,167
$1,888COP 6.0M
19.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,972A$2,771
$1,027COP 3.2M
92.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,572A$9,234
$4,183COP 13.2M
57.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,841A$8,206
$1,675COP 5.3M
248.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Charleville
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$678COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.87
10.94
-46.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Charleville: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,449 in Charleville and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $96.0 in Charleville vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $382 vs $305 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, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,942 in Charleville and $2,521 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: $1,449 in Charleville versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Charleville and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,628 per month in Charleville versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 56% 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 20% less than in Charleville. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Charleville or in Medellin?
At $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,628 in Charleville, a $2,500 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 56% 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