🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,796 in Acheres.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $2,821 in Acheres.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $3,845 in Acheres.
🙂Living in Medellin costs roughly 42% less than in Acheres, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Acheres is 34% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$18.26€15.63
-67.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$70.5€60.4
-53.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$14.07€12.04
-48.83%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$3.69€3.16
-53.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$3.19€2.73
-65.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$2.12€1.82
-66.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$8.03€6.87
-79.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$5.62€4.81
-44.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.53€1.31
-30.72%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$1.79€1.53
-30.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$3.03€2.59
-54.13%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$3.99€3.41
-43.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$21.93€18.77
-80.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$13.36€11.43
-56.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$24.09€20.62
-63.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$3.72€3.19
-39.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$2.16€1.84
-50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$2.43€2.08
-37.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$3.30€2.82
-58.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$1.91€1.63
-40.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$2.13€1.82
-47.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$1.58€1.35
-46.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.64€0.55
42.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$13.65€11.69
-82.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$8.29€7.09
34.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$2.35€2.01
-49.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$4.26€3.65
-44.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$2.02€1.73
-60.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
$49.11€42.04
-16.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$4.74€4.06
-69.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$1.87€1.60
2.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$32.66€27.96
-75.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$2.01€1.72
-53.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$37.0K€31.7K
-51.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$37.3K€31.9K
-28.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$197€169
-57.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$23.24€19.90
-58.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$29.11€24.91
-17.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$37.89€32.43
-31.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
$18.20€15.58
4.62%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$14.37€12.30
-72.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$563€482
-45.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$8,614€7,374
-31.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$91.2€78.1
-36.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$36.43€31.18
-12.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$83.9€71.8
19.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$105€90.1
1.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$775€664
-37.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$605€518
-39.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$1,409€1,206
-41.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$1,069€915
-33.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$4,258€3,645
-31.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
$2,993€2,562
-53.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$3,978€3,405
-86.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
3.69
263.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Acheres: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $775 in Acheres. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Acheres pays 629% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $71.0 in Acheres for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $385 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
Medellin vs Acheres: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Acheres cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Acheres?
On paper, Acheres earns 629% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Acheres?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $775 in Acheres. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Acheres?
All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Medellin versus $1,796 in Acheres – a 74% 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 19% less than in Acheres. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Acheres?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $1,796 in Acheres, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Acheres. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Acheres more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Acheres, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Acheres?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Acheres 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 74% less than in Acheres. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.