🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $2,582 in Calhoun, GA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $3,742 in Calhoun, GA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $4,903 in Calhoun, GA.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 60% less than in Calhoun, GA, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Calhoun, GA is 93% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 19.8K
$19.34$19.34
-68.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 104.8K
$73.9$73.9
-55.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.6K
$11.08$11.08
-33.75%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,527
$4.96$4.96
-65.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,376
$2.60$2.60
-59.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,482
$2.05$2.05
-62.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,417
$5.96$5.96
-71.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.2K
$7.15$7.15
-55.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,379
$1.01$1.01
3.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,181
$3.48$3.48
-62.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,485
$4.44$4.44
-68.47%
Eggs
$2.16COP 6,956
$4.10$4.10
-47.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.1K
$12.35$12.35
-64.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 18.9K
$11.33$11.33
-48.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 27.8K
$15.61$15.61
-44.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,330
$4.85$4.85
-52.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,557
$1.55$1.55
-28.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,918
$4.20$4.20
-63.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,353
$4.61$4.61
-70.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,627
$2.79$2.79
-59.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,644
$2.91$2.91
-61.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,717
$2.08$2.08
-59.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,937
$2.20$2.20
-58.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,531
$9.36$9.36
-75.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 39.7K
$14.73$14.73
-16.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,859
$1.85$1.85
-35.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,000
$3.41$3.41
-26.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,692
$1.97$1.97
-57.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 130.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,563
$3.48$3.48
-59.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,155
$1.64$1.64
17.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.6K
$29.23$29.23
-73.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,181
$0.91$0.91
8.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 57.9M
$29.0K$29.0K
-37.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 85.6M
$25.6K$25.6K
4.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 259.7K
$189$189
-57.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.0K
$52.1$52.1
-80.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 77.7K
$67.0$67.0
-63.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 80.6K
$42.39$42.39
-40.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 61.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 12.8K
$13.54$13.54
-70.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 980.7K
$1,274$1,274
-76.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.5M
$23.5K$23.5K
-74.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 186.8K
$50.2$50.2
15.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 103.5K
$39.90$39.90
-19.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 323.7K
$87.3$87.3
15.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 346.3K
$113$113
-4.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.5M
$1,603$1,603
-70.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$1,354$1,354
-72.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$2,653$2,653
-68.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.3M
$2,208$2,208
-66.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.3M
$2,412$2,412
33.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.4M
$2,473$2,473
-44.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.51
106.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Calhoun, GA: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $1,603 in Calhoun, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $74.0 in Calhoun, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $388 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 Calhoun, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Calhoun, GA?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 150% lower than in Calhoun, GA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Calhoun, GA?
You'd need roughly $1,546 in Medellin and $3,872 in Calhoun, GA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Calhoun, GA?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $1,603 in Calhoun, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Calhoun, GA?
Childcare runs $305 in Medellin versus $1,274 in Calhoun, GA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Calhoun, GA?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $74.0 in Calhoun, GA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or in Calhoun, GA?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $2,582 in Calhoun, GA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Calhoun, GA. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Calhoun, GA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,031 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 150% less than in Calhoun, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.