😐A single person spends $1,803 per month in Chartres vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,744 per month in Chartres vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,684 per month in Chartres vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Chartres costs about 10% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chartres and Medellin sit above the global median – Chartres by 31%, Medellin by 19%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chartres
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.94€12.88
$8.04COP 24.8K
85.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.0€45.71
$48.29COP 148.6K
9.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.17€9.63
$9.42COP 29.0K
18.58%
Cappuccino
$2.63€2.27
$2.94COP 9,040
-10.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.40
$1.86COP 5,735
49.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.35
$1.46COP 4,479
7.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.20€7.07
$3.21COP 9,882
155.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.65€4.87
$5.71COP 17.6K
-1.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chartres
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30€1.12
$1.44COP 4,428
-9.72%
White Bread(500g)
$2.11€1.82
$2.40COP 7,389
-12.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.56€3.07
$1.70COP 5,228
109.41%
Eggs
$3.72€3.21
$2.89COP 8,896
28.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.96€15.48
$10.06COP 30.9K
78.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.78€11.88
$9.97COP 30.7K
38.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.58€21.19
$14.20COP 43.7K
73.10%
Apples(1kg)
$3.59€3.10
$3.98COP 12.3K
-9.80%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06€1.78
$1.58COP 4,878
30.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.65€2.28
$2.15COP 6,624
23.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.43€2.96
$2.30COP 7,078
49.13%
Potato(1kg)
$2.50€2.15
$2.00COP 6,169
25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$3.46€2.98
$1.51COP 4,646
129.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61€1.39
$1.20COP 3,701
34.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93€0.80
$1.28COP 3,946
-27.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.86€11.95
$3.84COP 11.8K
260.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.94€5.98
$14.01COP 43.1K
-50.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.57€3.08
$1.71COP 5,256
108.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67€3.16
$2.74COP 8,440
33.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Chartres
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.96€1.69
$1.25COP 3,834
56.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.69€42.84
$77.9COP 239.7K
-36.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.68€4.03
$1.31COP 4,016
257.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.11€1.82
$2.17COP 6,680
-2.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.60€28.10
$8.29COP 25.5K
293.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.17€1.87
$1.36COP 4,172
59.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.1K€14.7K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
-37.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K€21.6K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-31.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chartres
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$161€139
$169COP 519.2K
-4.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.56€11.69
$13.57COP 41.8K
-0.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.45€27.97
$28.32COP 87.2K
14.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chartres
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.44€32.27
$45.71COP 140.7K
-18.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.67€11.78
$17.22COP 53.0K
-20.62%
Cinema Ticket
$13.72€11.82
$6.65COP 20.5K
106.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chartres
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$832€717
$803COP 2.5M
3.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K€9,019
$9,190COP 28.3M
13.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chartres
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108€92.8
$87.4COP 268.8K
23.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7€52.4
$59.4COP 182.7K
2.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115€99.2
$139COP 427.5K
-17.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100€86.2
$102COP 314.0K
-1.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chartres
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$793€684
$1,071COP 3.3M
-25.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$628€542
$653COP 2.0M
-3.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,456€1,255
$1,925COP 5.9M
-24.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,165€1,005
$1,048COP 3.2M
11.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,154€3,581
$4,123COP 12.7M
0.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,152€1,855
$1,697COP 5.2M
26.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chartres
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.91
10.94
-64.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chartres: September 5, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $793 in Chartres 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Chartres versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $389 vs $300 – 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
Chartres vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chartres or Medellin?
Chartres costs about 10% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chartres and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,704 per month in Chartres and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chartres or Medellin?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Chartres and in Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $832 per month in Chartres and $803 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chartres or in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Chartres, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Chartres or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Chartres at $1,803. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chartres it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chartres or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,641 versus $1,803 in Chartres. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chartres compared to 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.
Should I move to Chartres or to Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chartres makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.