Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Acre Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Acre

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,912 in Acre.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $3,011 in Acre.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $4,111 in Acre.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 47% less than in Acre, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Acre is 43% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Acre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COP 21.4K
$22.16 ₪63.6
-72.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COP 117.2K
$85.7 ₪246
-61.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COP 25.3K
$15.55 ₪44.65
-54.41%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COP 6,105
$4.10 ₪11.77
-58.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,918
$2.98 ₪8.55
-63.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,776
$2.32 ₪6.67
-66.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COP 5,987
$8.94 ₪25.67
-81.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COP 10.9K
$8.57 ₪24.61
-64.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Acre
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 3,899
$2.09 ₪6.00
-47.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 4,500
$3.05 ₪8.74
-58.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,914
$3.34 ₪9.58
-58.68%
Eggs
$2.19 COP 7,813
$4.25 ₪12.19
-48.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COP 15.7K
$17.00 ₪48.81
-74.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COP 20.1K
$10.53 ₪30.23
-46.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COP 31.7K
$21.21 ₪60.9
-58.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 8,334
$3.08 ₪8.83
-24.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,771
$2.26 ₪6.50
-53.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COP 5,365
$1.91 ₪5.48
-21.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,915
$2.27 ₪6.51
-39.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COP 4,104
$1.69 ₪4.87
-31.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,148
$1.58 ₪4.55
-26.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,176
$1.97 ₪5.66
-54.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 2,992
$1.63 ₪4.69
-48.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COP 8,131
$10.80 ₪31.00
-78.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COP 37.9K
$16.60 ₪47.66
-35.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,276
$2.89 ₪8.29
-58.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COP 8,809
$3.35 ₪9.61
-26.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Acre
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,051
$1.59 ₪4.56
-45.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COP 147.6K
$69.2 ₪199
-40.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,255
$3.84 ₪11.02
-61.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 6,997
$0.88 ₪2.53
122.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COP 27.6K
$33.22 ₪95.4
-76.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COP 3,403
$2.00 ₪5.73
-52.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 64.6M
$46.5K ₪133.6K
-61.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COP 94.4M
$45.5K ₪130.5K
-41.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Acre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COP 293.2K
$244 ₪699
-66.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COP 33.9K
$10.18 ₪29.22
-6.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COP 86.4K
$27.47 ₪78.9
-11.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Acre
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COP 92.3K
$108 ₪310
-76.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COP 67.7K
$2.08 ₪5.96
813.46%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COP 14.0K
$12.71 ₪36.48
-69.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Acre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COP 1.1M
$1,045 ₪2,999
-70.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COP 21.3M
$4,015 ₪11.5K
48.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Acre
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 209.1K
$85.6 ₪246
-31.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COP 115.3K
$53.8 ₪154
-39.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 365.7K
$136 ₪390
-24.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 386.5K
$109 ₪312
-0.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Acre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COP 1.7M
$612 ₪1,756
-22.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.4M
$541 ₪1,554
-30.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COP 3.0M
$1,018 ₪2,924
-17.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COP 2.6M
$941 ₪2,702
-23.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COP 9.9M
$4,425 ₪12.7K
-36.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COP 4.3M
$4,038 ₪11.6K
-70.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Acre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COP 1.8M
$4,195 ₪12.0K
-87.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
5.35
151.03%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Acre: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $612 in Acre. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Acre pays 720% 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 $86.0 in Acre for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $387 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 Acre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Acre?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 89% lower than in Acre. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Acre?
On paper, Acre earns 720% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Acre?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $612 in Acre. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Acre?
Supermarket bills run roughly 105% higher in Acre. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs Acre?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $86.0 in Acre. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Acre?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,912 in Acre, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Acre. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Acre?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,013 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Acre. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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