Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ashford Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ashford

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,716 in Medellin versus $2,470 in Ashford.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,527 in Medellin versus $3,407 in Ashford.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,338 in Medellin versus $4,344 in Ashford.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 31% less than in Ashford, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 25% above, Ashford 80% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ashford
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.2K
$21.21 £15.68
-62.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 151.7K
$80.0 £59.1
-39.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.7K
$10.71 £7.92
-8.78%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,149
$5.73 £4.24
-49.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,110
$2.70 £2.00
-28.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,783
$1.83 £1.35
-16.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,721
$4.00 £2.96
-22.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 18.1K
$7.31 £5.41
-21.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ashford
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,287
$1.49 £1.10
-8.72%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,505
$1.29 £0.95
85.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,346
$1.72 £1.27
-1.16%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 9,021
$3.35 £2.48
-14.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.2K
$5.29 £3.91
87.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.9K
$6.94 £5.13
55.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.3K
$15.19 £11.23
-3.03%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$3.37 £2.49
21.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,940
$1.45 £1.07
8.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,682
$2.90 £2.14
-26.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,959
$3.36 £2.48
-34.23%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,435
$1.71 £1.26
19.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,728
$1.43 £1.06
4.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,740
$1.44 £1.07
-17.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,640
$1.52 £1.13
-23.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$18.68 £13.81
-79.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.4K
$9.66 £7.14
49.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,978
$2.76 £2.04
-42.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,889
$3.72 £2.75
-23.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ashford
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,672
$4.18 £3.09
-72.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 244.3K
$148 £110
-47.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,038
$6.12 £4.53
-79.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,576
$1.67 £1.23
25.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 27.1K
$21.80 £16.11
-60.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,080
$1.95 £1.44
-33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.9M
$34.7K £25.6K
-20.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 111.6M
$40.6K £30.0K
-12.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ashford
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 553.4K
$256 £189
-31.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.0K
$18.44 £13.63
-27.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 94.0K
$38.63 £28.56
-22.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ashford
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 140.7K
$62.8 £46.44
-28.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.6K
$19.03 £14.07
-10.35%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.5K
$21.03 £15.55
-70.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ashford
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$1,091 £807
-27.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.4M
$20.5K £15.1K
-55.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ashford
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 269.1K
$70.6 £52.2
21.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 183.8K
$28.44 £21.02
105.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 428.4K
$79.3 £58.7
71.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 324.1K
$99.9 £73.8
3.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ashford
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$1,153 £852
-8.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$1,161 £858
-41.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$1,738 £1,285
15.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$1,495 £1,105
-21.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.9M
$6,441 £4,761
-36.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$4,889 £3,614
-65.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ashford
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
$2,537 £1,875
-73.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
4.91
122.81%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ashford: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,060 in Medellin and $1,153 in Ashford. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ashford pays 281% 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 $80.0 in Ashford. Groceries flip the comparison at $303 vs $271, with Ashford cheaper for home cooking.

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 Ashford: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ashford cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Ashford?
On paper, salaries run 281% lower in Ashford. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Ashford?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,060 in Medellin versus $1,153 in Ashford. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Ashford?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $80.0 in Ashford. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Ashford?
All in, you'll spend $1,716 per month in Medellin versus $2,470 in Ashford – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Ashford?
At $1,716 in Medellin versus $2,470 in Ashford, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Ashford. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Ashford more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ashford, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Ashford?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Ashford are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Ashford. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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