😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $687 in Anapolis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $1,154 in Anapolis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $1,621 in Anapolis.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 145% more expensive than in Anapolis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Anapolis is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Anapolis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.3K
$5.68R$29.10
41.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 151.0K
$39.33R$202
21.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.2K
$6.86R$35.17
44.17%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,873
$2.47R$12.63
26.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,019
$1.42R$7.27
34.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,763
$0.71R$3.62
112.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,853
$2.31R$11.84
35.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.1K
$2.98R$15.29
92.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Anapolis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,558
$1.07R$5.47
34.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,843
$2.00R$10.23
24.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,595
$1.27R$6.53
39.37%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,336
$2.12R$10.85
39.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.8K
$8.90R$45.58
13.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.9K
$3.98R$20.40
154.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.1K
$6.90R$35.38
107.25%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.0K
$2.09R$10.69
98.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,073
$1.10R$5.64
46.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,083
$1.19R$6.08
89.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,104
$1.05R$5.40
114.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,444
$1.15R$5.91
77.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,842
$1.02R$5.21
50.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,691
$0.69R$3.56
69.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,121
$0.99R$5.08
32.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.3K
$1.97R$10.10
97.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.2K
$5.99R$30.68
133.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,498
$1.23R$6.32
41.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,053
$2.41R$12.36
19.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Anapolis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,834
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 253.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,129
$1.08R$5.53
21.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,899
$0.90R$4.60
143.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.5K
$6.22R$31.88
40.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,306
$1.25R$6.43
9.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
$23.3KR$119.3K
19.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
$31.8KR$162.8K
12.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Anapolis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 559.3K
$58.1R$298
205.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.8K
$9.95R$51.0
39.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 93.8K
$19.38R$99.3
53.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Anapolis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 141.6K
$23.00R$118
95.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.0K
$5.85R$29.98
13.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Anapolis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$816R$4,182
-0.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.0M
$16.4KR$84.3K
-44.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Anapolis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 282.3K
$51.9R$266
72.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 186.0K
$39.56R$203
49.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 435.9K
$83.8R$429
65.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 322.1K
$38.32R$196
166.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Anapolis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$231R$1,182
360.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$158R$811
318.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$525R$2,689
259.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$354R$1,813
190.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.2M
$1,239R$6,350
237.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$948R$4,857
76.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Anapolis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$518R$2,655
30.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
12.12
-9.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Anapolis: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $231 in Anapolis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 31% 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: $48.00 in Medellin vs $39.00 in Anapolis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $182 per month, with Anapolis 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 Anapolis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Anapolis?
Anapolis wins on cost – living expenses run 145% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Anapolis the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Anapolis?
Average pay runs 31% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Anapolis?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $231 in Anapolis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Anapolis?
Supermarket bills run roughly 68% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Anapolis?
All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $687 in Anapolis – a 145% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Anapolis?
At $687 in Anapolis versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Anapolis but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Anapolis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Anapolis?
Both work as nomad bases, but Anapolis delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $687 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Anapolis hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Anapolis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 145% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.