πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $884 in Achinsk.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,345 in Achinsk.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $1,805 in Achinsk.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 15% more expensive than Achinsk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Achinsk34% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Achinsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
$8.10β½591
-26.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
$25.33β½1,849
29.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
$3.60β½263
96.94%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
$2.25β½164
-24.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
$0.97β½71.1
13.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
$0.71β½52.1
9.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
$2.04β½149
-17.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
$1.41β½103
117.73%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Achinsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
$1.12β½81.4
-2.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
$0.71β½51.6
77.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
$1.52β½111
-9.21%
Eggs
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
$1.45β½106
51.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
$9.07β½662
-51.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
$4.66β½340
20.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
$8.90β½649
-0.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
$1.82β½133
28.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
$1.43β½105
-25.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
$1.61β½118
-6.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
$1.31β½95.7
5.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
$1.23β½89.5
-6.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
$0.76β½55.7
52.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
$0.73β½53.2
21.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
$0.57β½41.84
47.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
$3.11β½227
-26.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
$6.98β½510
52.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
$1.05β½76.4
14.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
$1.44β½105
71.53%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Achinsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
$0.49β½35.67
75.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
$25.34β½1,850
63.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
$1.85β½135
-20.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
$0.33β½23.86
493.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
$2.04β½149
279.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
$0.59β½42.89
61.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
$42.5Kβ½3.1M
-57.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
$50.3Kβ½3.7M
-47.36%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Achinsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
$106β½7,752
-22.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
$5.28β½386
79.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
$8.14β½594
197.67%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Achinsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
$35.36β½2,581
-26.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
$31.99β½2,335
-40.61%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
$4.93β½360
-20.28%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Achinsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COPΒ 1.1M
$143β½10.4K
117.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
$6,868β½501.3K
-13.14%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Achinsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
$64.0β½4,672
-8.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
$60.1β½4,388
-46.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COPΒ 366.4K
$51.6β½3,764
98.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 387.2K
$56.0β½4,091
93.49%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Achinsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COPΒ 1.7M
$437β½31.9K
8.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.4M
$303β½22.1K
25.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPΒ 3.0M
$760β½55.5K
10.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COPΒ 2.6M
$503β½36.7K
44.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
$2,185β½159.5K
27.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
$1,551β½113.2K
-21.90%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Achinsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COPΒ 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
11
22.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Achinsk: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $437 in Achinsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $25.00 in Achinsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $175 per month, with Achinsk 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 Achinsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Achinsk cheaper than Medellin?
Achinsk is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,519 in Medellin and $1,326 in Achinsk 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 Medellin and Achinsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $437 in Achinsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $309 in Medellin versus $143 in Achinsk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Achinsk?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Achinsk?
At $884 in Achinsk versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Achinsk but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Achinsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Achinsk more family-friendly?
For families, Achinsk is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Achinsk gentler on the wallet β expenses run 15% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.