Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Acapulco Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Acapulco

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $955 in Acapulco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,460 in Acapulco, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,965 in Acapulco, rent included.

Medellin costs about 6% more than Acapulco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Acapulco are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Acapulco 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$10.78 MX$186

-44.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$32.02 MX$554

2.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$11.34 MX$196

-37.48%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$3.76 MX$65.0

-54.52%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$1.82 MX$31.49

-39.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$1.54 MX$26.69

-49.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$2.57 MX$44.51

-34.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$4.74 MX$81.9

-35.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.56 MX$26.91

-30.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$3.19 MX$55.1

-60.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.55 MX$26.82

-10.97%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$1.74 MX$30.15

25.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$6.24 MX$108

-29.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$8.12 MX$141

-30.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$10.78 MX$186

-17.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$4.53 MX$78.4

-48.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.68 MX$29.07

-36.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$3.19 MX$55.2

-52.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$3.12 MX$53.9

-55.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$3.44 MX$59.4

-66.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$2.87 MX$49.68

-59.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$1.25 MX$21.67

-28.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.78 MX$13.42

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$7.82 MX$135

-70.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$7.04 MX$122

51.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.04 MX$17.99

15.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$2.62 MX$45.37

-5.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.73 MX$12.67

17.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$4.27 MX$73.8

-65.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$1.54 MX$26.68

27.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$8.38 MX$145

-7.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.26 MX$21.73

-24.60%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$21.0K MX$362.7K

-13.53%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$22.1K MX$382.6K

19.75%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$38.89 MX$673

111.49%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$22.51 MX$389

-57.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$20.88 MX$361

16.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$18.76 MX$324

38.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$13.24 MX$229

43.50%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$3.62 MX$62.7

8.56%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$156 MX$2,706

97.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$3,565 MX$61.7K

67.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$63.9 MX$1,105

-8.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$41.96 MX$726

-22.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$106 MX$1,826

-2.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$80.3 MX$1,390

34.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$506 MX$8,748

-5.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$243 MX$4,208

55.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$918 MX$15.9K

-8.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$249 MX$4,302

191.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$486 MX$8,412

5.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.5

16.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Acapulco: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $506 in Acapulco. 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 5% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $32.00 in Acapulco. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Medellin vs $268 in Acapulco – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Medellin vs Acapulco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 6% more than Acapulco, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,433 in Acapulco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $955 in Acapulco. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $156 in Acapulco. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Acapulco, where all-in costs run around $955, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Acapulco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Acapulco costs $955 versus $1,013 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Acapulco. 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.