Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Calhoun, GA

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,625 a month against $2,620 in Calhoun, GA, rent and utilities included – about $11,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Calhoun, GA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,620
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Calhoun, GA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Calhoun, GA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,625 in Medellin versus $2,620 in Calhoun, GA.

  • Medellin $1,625
  • Calhoun, GA $2,620

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,412 in Medellin versus $3,920 in Calhoun, GA.

  • Medellin $2,412
  • Calhoun, GA $3,920

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,199 in Medellin versus $5,219 in Calhoun, GA.

  • Medellin $3,199
  • Calhoun, GA $5,219

Living in Medellin costs roughly 38% less than in Calhoun, GA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 20% above, Calhoun, GA 93% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.30 COP 26.3K
$17.81 $17.81
-53.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.91 COP 148.7K
$85.6 $85.6
-45.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 COP 29.3K
$11.65 $11.65
-20.69%
Cappuccino
$3.05 COP 9,676
$4.77 $4.77
-36.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,707
$2.65 $2.65
-32.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,382
$2.29 $2.29
-39.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 COP 10.3K
$5.24 $5.24
-38.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 COP 17.6K
$7.11 $7.11
-21.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 COP 4,760
$0.83 $0.83
80.72%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 COP 7,508
$3.30 $3.30
-28.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,377
$4.42 $4.42
-61.54%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,379
$4.55 $4.55
-34.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.22 COP 32.4K
$12.64 $12.64
-19.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 COP 30.9K
$7.43 $7.43
31.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.90 COP 44.1K
$17.19 $17.19
-19.14%
Apples (1kg)
$4.13 COP 13.1K
$4.88 $4.88
-15.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,839
$1.59 $1.59
-3.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 COP 7,052
$4.42 $4.42
-49.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 COP 7,194
$4.85 $4.85
-53.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 COP 6,311
$2.76 $2.76
-27.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 COP 5,285
$3.04 $3.04
-45.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 COP 3,742
$2.11 $2.11
-44.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,919
$2.19 $2.19
-43.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87 COP 12.3K
$9.95 $9.95
-61.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.78 COP 43.7K
$14.94 $14.94
-7.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,256
$1.94 $1.94
-14.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 COP 7,615
$3.33 $3.33
-27.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 COP 3,944
$1.86 $1.86
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.2 COP 248.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,044
$3.29 $3.29
-61.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 COP 6,803
$1.71 $1.71
25.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.37 COP 26.5K
$32.64 $32.64
-74.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,288
$0.97 $0.97
39.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K COP 110.2M
$31.9K $31.9K
8.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 110.0M
$24.3K $24.3K
42.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 COP 528.4K
$235 $235
-28.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.62 COP 43.2K
$60.7 $60.7
-77.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.12 COP 92.3K
$70.3 $70.3
-58.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.09 COP 143.0K
$39.38 $39.38
14.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.18 COP 54.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.97 COP 22.1K
$14.05 $14.05
-50.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.5M
$582 $582
35.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,041 COP 28.7M
$25.1K $25.1K
-64.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8 COP 278.4K
$53.5 $53.5
64.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2 COP 184.4K
$43.50 $43.50
33.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 440.7K
$88.3 $88.3
57.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 COP 313.5K
$113 $113
-12.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$1,707 $1,707
-39.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 COP 2.0M
$1,364 $1,364
-54.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,881 COP 6.0M
$2,786 $2,786
-32.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 COP 3.2M
$2,437 $2,437
-58.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,988 COP 12.6M
$2,360 $2,360
68.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,702 COP 5.4M
$2,313 $2,313
-26.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Calhoun, GA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.57
66.51%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Last update for Calhoun, GA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$619
Calhoun, GA
$1.4K 120% $744
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$298
Calhoun, GA
$375 25.9% $77
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$209
Calhoun, GA
$366 74.6% $156
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$173
Calhoun, GA
$134 22.2% $38
Eating Out
Medellin
$171
Calhoun, GA
$295 72.6% $124
Getting Around
Medellin
$95
Calhoun, GA
$19 * 79.8% $76
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$59
Calhoun, GA
$67 14.3% $8.5

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,028 in Medellin and $1,707 in Calhoun, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Medellin vs $86.0 in Calhoun, GA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $375 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇺🇸 Calhoun, GA
🕒 Local time
06:39 6:39 AM
07:39 7:39 AM
1 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
14,015
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Calhoun, GA 3,280 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Calhoun, GA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 61% 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 $2,437 in Medellin and $3,931 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: $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,707 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 $790 in Medellin versus $582 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 $47.00 versus $86.0 in Calhoun, GA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Medellin or in Calhoun, GA?
At $1,625 in Medellin versus $2,620 in Calhoun, GA, a $2,500 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 $1,625 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 61% less than in Calhoun, GA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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