Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Charles Town, WV

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,589 a month against $2,093 in Charles Town, WV, rent and utilities included – about $6,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Charles Town, WV
🇺🇸 United States
$2,093
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Charles Town, WV

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 Charles Town, WV actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,589 in Medellin versus $2,093 in Charles Town, WV.

  • Medellin $1,589
  • Charles Town, WV $2,093

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,364 in Medellin versus $3,347 in Charles Town, WV.

  • Medellin $2,364
  • Charles Town, WV $3,347

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,139 in Medellin versus $4,601 in Charles Town, WV.

  • Medellin $3,139
  • Charles Town, WV $4,601

Living in Medellin costs roughly 24% less than in Charles Town, WV, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 19% above, Charles Town, WV 56% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01 COP 25.5K
$13.25 $13.25
-39.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55 COP 148.3K
$60.5 $60.5
-23.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 COP 30.1K
$7.33 $7.33
28.65%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,277
$3.97 $3.97
-26.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 COP 5,585
$2.70 $2.70
-35.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 COP 4,218
$1.96 $1.96
-32.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 COP 9,969
$4.86 $4.86
-35.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 COP 17.7K
$7.97 $7.97
-30.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 COP 4,495
$1.69 $1.69
-16.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 COP 7,777
$4.49 $4.49
-45.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,191
$7.17 $7.17
-77.27%
Eggs
$2.82 COP 8,990
$7.88 $7.88
-64.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 COP 30.9K
$16.72 $16.72
-42.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.32 COP 29.7K
$10.98 $10.98
-15.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 COP 42.9K
$15.61 $15.61
-13.77%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 COP 12.8K
$4.71 $4.71
-15.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 COP 4,719
$1.26 $1.26
17.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 COP 6,768
$5.36 $5.36
-60.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,178
$5.40 $5.40
-58.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 COP 6,092
$3.07 $3.07
-37.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 COP 5,160
$2.03 $2.03
-20.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,658
$2.06 $2.06
-44.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 COP 4,021
$2.78 $2.78
-54.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82 COP 12.2K
$13.74 $13.74
-72.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.11 COP 41.8K
$14.88 $14.88
-11.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 5,083
$1.68 $1.68
-4.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,188
$5.22 $5.22
-56.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,731
$1.74 $1.74
-32.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.0 COP 239.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,056
$3.29 $3.29
-61.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,531
$2.00 $2.00
2.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 COP 26.1K
$29.45 $29.45
-72.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 COP 4,046
$0.99 $0.99
28.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K COP 85.3M
$30.0K $30.0K
-10.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K COP 109.6M
$22.1K $22.1K
55.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 COP 516.9K
$151 $151
7.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 COP 41.8K
$49.90 $49.90
-73.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09 COP 89.5K
$71.7 $71.7
-60.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.33 COP 141.2K
$47.26 $47.26
-6.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 COP 52.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 COP 19.4K
$16.97 $16.97
-64.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$764 COP 2.4M
$2,213 $2,213
-65.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,904 COP 28.4M
$23.4K $23.4K
-61.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 COP 270.8K
$47.73 $47.73
78.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 COP 183.2K
$36.59 $36.59
57.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 COP 419.8K
$112 $112
17.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 COP 305.1K
$119 $119
-19.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$1,194 $1,194
-13.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 COP 1.9M
$892 $892
-32.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 COP 5.7M
$2,075 $2,075
-13.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$993 COP 3.2M
$1,931 $1,931
-48.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,921 COP 12.5M
$2,708 $2,708
44.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,639 COP 5.2M
$2,340 $2,340
-29.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$626 COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
5
118.80%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026

Last update for Charles Town, WV: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$604
Charles Town, WV
$892 47.6% $288
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$288
Charles Town, WV
$457 58.4% $169
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$203
Charles Town, WV
$273 34.1% $69
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$166
Charles Town, WV
$142 14.8% $25
Eating Out
Medellin
$166
Charles Town, WV
$234 40.9% $68
Getting Around
Medellin
$91
Charles Town, WV
$20 * 77.8% $71
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Charles Town, WV
$81 43.7% $25

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 $1,194 in Charles Town, WV. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Medellin vs $61.0 in Charles Town, WV for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $457 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇺🇸 Charles Town, WV
🕒 Local time
15:05 3:05 PM
16:05 4:05 PM
1 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
6,500
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3,187 COP (10,000 COP = 3.14 USD). 1 EUR = 3,571 COP (10,000 COP = 2.8 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Charles Town, WV 3,680 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Charles Town, WV

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 Charles Town, WV: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Charles Town, WV?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 32% lower than in Charles Town, WV. 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 Charles Town, WV?
You'd need roughly $2,384 in Medellin and $3,139 in Charles Town, WV 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 Charles Town, WV?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,194 in Charles Town, WV. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Charles Town, WV?
Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Charles Town, WV. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Charles Town, WV?
All in, you'll spend $1,589 per month in Medellin versus $2,093 in Charles Town, WV – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or in Charles Town, WV?
At $1,589 in Medellin versus $2,093 in Charles Town, WV, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Charles Town, WV. 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 Charles Town, WV?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,589 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 32% less than in Charles Town, WV. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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