🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,864 in Acheres.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $2,878 in Acheres.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,144 in Medellin versus $3,892 in Acheres.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 45% less than in Acheres, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Acheres is 40% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00COP 20.6K
$17.92€15.64
-66.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84COP 112.9K
$69.0€60.2
-52.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42COP 25.5K
$13.93€12.15
-46.73%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,675
$3.81€3.32
-56.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07COP 3,673
$3.33€2.91
-67.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76COP 2,614
$2.07€1.81
-63.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,925
$8.05€7.02
-78.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20COP 11.0K
$5.90€5.15
-45.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,607
$1.54€1.34
-31.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,492
$1.73€1.51
-24.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34COP 4,604
$3.06€2.67
-56.21%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,543
$3.94€3.44
-44.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.41COP 15.2K
$22.15€19.32
-80.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69COP 19.6K
$12.92€11.27
-55.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52COP 29.3K
$23.92€20.87
-64.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,046
$3.75€3.28
-37.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,815
$2.17€1.90
-48.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 5,225
$2.43€2.12
-37.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,694
$3.26€2.85
-57.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 3,962
$1.99€1.74
-42.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18COP 4,055
$2.10€1.83
-43.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84COP 2,893
$1.60€1.40
-47.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86COP 2,940
$0.64€0.56
34.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26COP 7,776
$13.62€11.88
-83.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.60COP 39.9K
$8.46€7.39
37.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,121
$2.40€2.09
-50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,508
$4.29€3.74
-42.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,729
$2.01€1.76
-60.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 140.4K
$48.92€42.69
-16.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,038
$4.65€4.06
-68.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,587
$1.81€1.58
6.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77COP 26.7K
$32.06€27.98
-75.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COP 3,474
$2.01€1.75
-49.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 60.7M
$37.3K€32.6K
-52.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 90.9M
$38.1K€33.2K
-30.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1COP 278.8K
$195€170
-58.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43COP 32.4K
$23.52€20.52
-59.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86COP 82.0K
$29.49€25.73
-19.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.99COP 89.4K
$37.78€32.96
-31.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71COP 64.3K
$18.41€16.06
1.63%
Cinema Ticket
$4.09COP 14.1K
$14.26€12.44
-71.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315COP 1.1M
$579€505
-45.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,022COP 20.7M
$8,476€7,395
-28.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7COP 205.2K
$89.3€77.9
-33.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97COP 109.9K
$37.23€32.49
-14.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 347.9K
$84.2€73.5
20.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105COP 361.3K
$106€92.6
-0.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$485COP 1.7M
$763€666
-36.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365COP 1.3M
$626€546
-41.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827COP 2.8M
$1,404€1,225
-41.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.5M
$1,084€946
-32.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,992COP 10.3M
$4,098€3,575
-26.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,314COP 4.5M
$3,315€2,892
-60.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Acheres
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$551COP 1.9M
$3,927€3,426
-85.97%
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: June 15, 2026
Last update for Acheres: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $485 in Medellin and $763 in Acheres. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Acheres pays 613% 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 $69.0 in Acheres for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $383 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, Sport & Entertainment. The 81% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Acheres?
On paper, salaries run 613% lower in Acheres. 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: $485 in Medellin versus $763 in Acheres. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Acheres?
All in, you'll spend $1,028 per month in Medellin versus $1,864 in Acheres – a 81% 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 Acheres. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Acheres?
At $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,864 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 81% less than in Acheres. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.