Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Athens, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Athens, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,716 in Medellin versus $1,678 in Athens, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,527 in Medellin versus $2,494 in Athens, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,338 in Medellin versus $3,310 in Athens, OH.

Living in Medellin is roughly 2% more expensive than in Athens, OH, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 25% above, Athens, OH 22% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Athens, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.2K
$15.02 $15.02
-46.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 151.7K
$50.0 $50.0
-3.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.7K
$10.15 $10.15
-3.74%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,149
$5.02 $5.02
-42.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,110
$2.33 $2.33
-16.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,783
$1.41 $1.41
7.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,721
$4.97 $4.97
-37.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 18.1K
$6.86 $6.86
-16.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Athens, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,287
$0.69 $0.69
97.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,505
$2.16 $2.16
10.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,346
$2.92 $2.92
-41.78%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 9,021
$4.19 $4.19
-31.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.2K
$12.97 $12.97
-23.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.9K
$8.67 $8.67
24.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.3K
$16.22 $16.22
-9.19%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$3.65 $3.65
12.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,940
$0.97 $0.97
61.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,682
$2.73 $2.73
-21.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,959
$2.99 $2.99
-26.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,435
$1.63 $1.63
25.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,728
$2.20 $2.20
-31.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,740
$1.69 $1.69
-29.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,640
$1.93 $1.93
-39.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$9.16 $9.16
-57.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.4K
$14.84 $14.84
-2.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,978
$2.09 $2.09
-24.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,889
$3.02 $3.02
-6.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Athens, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,672
$0.99 $0.99
18.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 244.3K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,038
$3.82 $3.82
-66.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,576
$1.25 $1.25
67.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 27.1K
$25.21 $25.21
-65.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,080
$0.87 $0.87
49.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.9M
$36.5K $36.5K
-24.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 111.6M
$25.9K $25.9K
37.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Athens, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 553.4K
$150 $150
17.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.0K
$29.94 $29.94
-55.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 94.0K
$48.78 $48.78
-38.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Athens, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 140.7K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.5K
$12.09 $12.09
-48.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Athens, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$1,442 $1,442
-44.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.4M
$19.3K $19.3K
-53.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Athens, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 269.1K
$45.48 $45.48
88.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 183.8K
$44.84 $44.84
30.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 428.4K
$66.2 $66.2
105.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 324.1K
$110 $110
-5.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Athens, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$1,303 $1,303
-18.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$699 $699
-2.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$1,468 $1,468
37.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$1,252 $1,252
-6.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.9M
$1,649 $1,649
149.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$1,653 $1,653
2.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Athens, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
$3,464 $3,464
-80.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.21
76.17%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Athens, OH: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,060 in Medellin and $1,303 in Athens, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Athens, OH pays 421% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $50.0 in Athens, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $323 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 Athens, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Athens, OH cheaper than Medellin?
Athens, OH is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Athens, OH?
On paper, salaries run 421% lower in Athens, OH. 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 Athens, OH?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,060 in Medellin versus $1,303 in Athens, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Athens, OH?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Athens, OH?
All in, you'll spend $1,716 per month in Medellin versus $1,678 in Athens, OH – a 2% 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 Athens, OH?
At $1,678 in Athens, OH versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Athens, OH but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Athens, OH the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Athens, OH more family-friendly?
For families, Athens, OH is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, 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 Athens, OH gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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