Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Anaco Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Anaco

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $451 in Anaco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $708 in Anaco, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $966 in Anaco, rent included.

Medellin costs about 129% more than Anaco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Anaco are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Anaco 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$11.80 VES 8,675

-47.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$0.88 VES 649

95.45%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$1.25 VES 917

-16.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.58 VES 427

32.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$0.85 VES 623

98.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.74 VES 1,281

-39.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$1.12 VES 823

25.00%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$3.58 VES 2,629

22.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$8.08 VES 5,936

6.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$1.56 VES 1,148

-13.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.63 VES 1,195

-30.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$1.03 VES 754

-11.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$1.23 VES 903

-2.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$1.63 VES 1,197

52.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.29 VES 211

189.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$2.99 VES 2,197

-52.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$0.52 VES 386

90.38%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$37.98 VES 27.9K

-36.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$45.06 VES 33.1K

-44.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$11.79 VES 8,669

62.43%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$6.06 VES 4,453

-34.32%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$45.17 VES 33.2K

575.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$44.35 VES 32.6K

31.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$37.65 VES 27.7K

-14.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$45.10 VES 33.2K

123.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$39.96 VES 29.4K

169.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$112 VES 82.2K

326.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$69.7 VES 51.3K

439.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$251 VES 184.6K

236.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$180 VES 132.4K

305.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$242 VES 177.5K

1231.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$170 VES 125.2K

705.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Anaco: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $112 in Anaco. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Anaco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 129%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $676 in Anaco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 111% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Medellin and $45.17 in Anaco. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Anaco, where all-in costs run around $451, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Anaco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Anaco – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Anaco. 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.