Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and AstiCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Asti
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,704 in Asti.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $2,395 in Asti.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $3,086 in Asti.
🙂Living in Medellin costs roughly 41% less than in Asti, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Asti is 27% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Asti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COP 21.4K
$17.14€14.76
-65.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COP 117.2K
$60.4€52.0
-45.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COP 25.3K
$11.71€10.08
-39.45%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,105
$1.70€1.47
0.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,918
$2.92€2.51
-62.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,776
$1.18€1.01
-33.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COP 5,987
$5.86€5.05
-71.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COP 10.9K
$4.07€3.51
-24.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Asti
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COP 3,899
$1.52€1.31
-28.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,500
$1.89€1.63
-33.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,914
$2.75€2.37
-49.82%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,813
$3.48€3.00
-37.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COP 15.7K
$18.60€16.02
-76.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COP 20.1K
$12.18€10.49
-53.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COP 31.7K
$22.01€18.95
-59.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,334
$2.10€1.81
11.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,771
$1.73€1.49
-38.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COP 5,365
$2.70€2.33
-44.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,915
$3.02€2.60
-54.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 4,104
$1.81€1.56
-36.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,148
$1.59€1.37
-27.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,176
$1.20€1.03
-25.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,992
$0.43€0.37
95.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COP 8,131
$7.09€6.11
-67.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COP 37.9K
$6.12€5.27
73.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,276
$1.93€1.66
-37.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,809
$2.32€2.00
6.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Asti
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COP 3,051
$1.79€1.54
-51.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COP 147.6K
$43.63€37.57
-5.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,255
$4.03€3.47
-63.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COP 6,997
$2.11€1.82
-7.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COP 27.6K
$11.36€9.78
-31.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COP 3,403
$2.00€1.72
-52.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
$26.6K€22.9K
-31.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
$34.6K€29.8K
-23.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Asti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COP 293.2K
$181€155
-54.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COP 33.9K
$10.41€8.96
-8.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COP 86.4K
$29.38€25.30
-17.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Asti
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COP 92.3K
$78.8€67.9
-67.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COP 67.7K
$23.37€20.12
-18.70%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COP 14.0K
$10.27€8.85
-61.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Asti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COP 1.1M
$574€494
-46.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COP 21.3M
$13.4K€11.5K
-55.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Asti
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COP 209.1K
$77.9€67.1
-24.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COP 115.3K
$40.26€34.67
-19.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COP 365.7K
$89.7€77.2
14.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 386.5K
$139€119
-21.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Asti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.7M
$528€455
-9.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.4M
$587€506
-35.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$681€586
23.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COP 2.6M
$505€435
43.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COP 9.9M
$2,399€2,066
16.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COP 4.3M
$1,407€1,212
-13.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Asti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COP 1.8M
$1,985€1,709
-74.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.8
179.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Asti: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $528 in Asti. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Asti pays 288% 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 $60.0 in Asti for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $334 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 Asti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Asti cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 68% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Asti?
On paper, Asti earns 288% less. 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 Asti?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $528 in Asti. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Asti?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $60.0 in Asti. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Asti?
All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $1,704 in Asti – a 68% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Asti?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,704 in Asti, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Asti. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Asti more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Asti, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Asti. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.