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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $457 in Anaco, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $725 in Anaco, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $993 in Anaco, rent included.

Medellin costs about 121% more than Anaco, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Anaco are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Anaco 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$12.19 VES 6,795

-50.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$0.82 VES 459

108.54%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$1.19 VES 665

-7.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.58 VES 321

34.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$0.91 VES 507

84.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.74 VES 968

-37.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.13 VES 628

22.12%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$3.59 VES 1,998

22.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$8.04 VES 4,481

10.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$1.50 VES 838

-8.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.57 VES 872

-26.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$1.01 VES 565

-16.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.23 VES 688

-2.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$1.58 VES 879

56.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.31 VES 174

177.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$2.93 VES 1,631

-49.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$0.51 VES 285

86.27%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$37.93 VES 21.1K

-36.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$44.57 VES 24.8K

-41.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$12.12 VES 6,755

56.77%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$5.90 VES 3,290

-33.39%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$44.45 VES 24.8K

596.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$44.83 VES 25.0K

30.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$37.96 VES 21.2K

-14.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$44.71 VES 24.9K

129.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$39.65 VES 22.1K

173.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$110 VES 61.1K

334.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$68.8 VES 38.3K

450.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$253 VES 141.1K

231.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$178 VES 99.3K

306.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$236 VES 131.4K

1083.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$172 VES 96.0K

602.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Anaco: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $110 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 121%, 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $686 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 108% 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 $309 per month in Medellin and $44.45 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 $457, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.