Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Asuncion Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Asuncion

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $755 in Asuncion, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,155 in Asuncion, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,556 in Asuncion, rent included.

Medellin costs about 37% more than Asuncion, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Asuncion are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Asuncion 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$4.29 ₲25.9K

43.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$26.47 ₲159.7K

23.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$4.60 ₲27.8K

59.57%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$1.96 ₲11.8K

-12.24%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.88 ₲5,335

19.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.50 ₲3,033

54.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$1.42 ₲8,579

19.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$1.84 ₲11.1K

72.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$0.85 ₲5,113

23.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$1.05 ₲6,335

23.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$0.98 ₲5,891

42.86%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$1.57 ₲9,460

37.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$6.64 ₲40.1K

-33.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$3.14 ₲18.9K

87.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$6.65 ₲40.1K

29.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$1.93 ₲11.7K

18.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$0.79 ₲4,745

40.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$0.92 ₲5,551

66.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$1.63 ₲9,844

-17.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.12 ₲6,729

0.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.08 ₲6,538

4.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$0.59 ₲3,553

44.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.52 ₲3,146

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$1.39 ₲8,387

68.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$8.43 ₲50.8K

46.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$0.76 ₲4,611

57.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$1.44 ₲8,678

72.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.44 ₲2,654

90.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$24.82 ₲149.7K

63.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$0.61 ₲3,695

132.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$0.78 ₲4,697

146.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$8.94 ₲53.9K

-14.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$0.84 ₲5,043

17.86%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$14.6K ₲87.8M

23.86%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$23.6K ₲142.6M

12.62%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$42.71 ₲257.6K

89.21%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$13.77 ₲83.0K

-27.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$15.34 ₲92.5K

57.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$27.68 ₲166.9K

-9.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$11.71 ₲70.6K

63.54%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$4.97 ₲30.0K

-19.92%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$162 ₲977.5K

88.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$3,313 ₲20.0M

82.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$49.53 ₲298.7K

17.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$30.79 ₲185.7K

4.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$72.4 ₲436.6K

39.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$52.8 ₲318.3K

104.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$404 ₲2.4M

17.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$296 ₲1.8M

27.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$707 ₲4.3M

19.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$485 ₲2.9M

50.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$1,761 ₲10.6M

82.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$1,235 ₲7.4M

11.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$631 ₲3.8M

-2.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

10.17

32.06%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Asuncion: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $404 in Asuncion. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% higher in Asuncion, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $26.00 in Asuncion. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $149 – making Asuncion the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Asuncion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 37%, 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 $1,132 in Asuncion. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 63% less in Asuncion. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Medellin and $162 in Asuncion. 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 Asuncion, where all-in costs run around $755, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Asuncion it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Asuncion – 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 Asuncion. 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.