๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,030 in Medellin versus $2,706 in Charles Town, WV.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $3,967 in Charles Town, WV.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $5,228 in Charles Town, WV.
๐Living in Medellin costs roughly 62% less than in Charles Town, WV, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Charles Town, WV is 102% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPย 21.2K
$22.25$22.25
-73.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17COPย 118.7K
$59.2$59.2
-43.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.25COPย 25.9K
$13.25$13.25
-45.28%
Cappuccino
$1.71COPย 6,137
$4.09$4.09
-58.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPย 3,915
$3.08$3.08
-64.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COPย 2,743
$1.97$1.97
-60.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75COPย 6,254
$5.15$5.15
-66.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COPย 11.4K
$7.70$7.70
-58.70%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPย 3,792
$1.17$1.17
-9.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COPย 4,657
$3.64$3.64
-64.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPย 4,926
$7.26$7.26
-80.99%
Eggs
$2.21COPย 7,908
$6.63$6.63
-66.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.52COPย 16.2K
$19.45$19.45
-76.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COPย 20.7K
$10.81$10.81
-46.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COPย 32.1K
$15.18$15.18
-40.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29COPย 8,182
$7.08$7.08
-67.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COPย 3,791
$1.31$1.31
-19.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51COPย 5,411
$5.65$5.65
-73.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COPย 4,869
$11.03$11.03
-87.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16COPย 4,146
$2.76$2.76
-57.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPย 4,174
$3.61$3.61
-67.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83COPย 2,960
$2.88$2.88
-71.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85COPย 3,043
$3.09$3.09
-72.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COPย 8,423
$8.18$8.18
-71.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.09COPย 39.7K
$18.06$18.06
-38.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COPย 4,133
$1.70$1.70
-32.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COPย 8,853
$3.60$3.60
-31.39%
๐ Getting Around
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPย 2,827
$1.96$1.96
-59.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.85COPย 149.8K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPย 5,140
$4.63$4.63
-68.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPย 6,793
$1.39$1.39
36.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.70COPย 27.6K
$28.91$28.91
-73.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03COPย 3,680
$0.82$0.82
25.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOPย 63.3M
$26.4K$26.4K
-32.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KCOPย 96.7M
$21.6K$21.6K
24.84%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4COPย 291.4K
$214$214
-61.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42COPย 33.7K
$52.5$52.5
-82.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77COPย 85.1K
$67.3$67.3
-64.66%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.86COPย 92.6K
$42.68$42.68
-39.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34COPย 69.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.05COPย 14.5K
$15.13$15.13
-73.23%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPย 1.1M
$1,881$1,881
-83.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,067COPย 21.7M
$23.4K$23.4K
-74.12%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9COPย 210.7K
$48.28$48.28
21.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82COPย 117.5K
$48.90$48.90
-32.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100COPย 359.6K
$117$117
-13.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106COPย 380.3K
$120$120
-11.51%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490COPย 1.8M
$1,613$1,613
-69.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COPย 1.3M
$1,372$1,372
-72.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COPย 3.0M
$2,628$2,628
-68.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$715COPย 2.6M
$2,218$2,218
-67.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,952COPย 10.6M
$2,726$2,726
8.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,394COPย 5.0M
$2,325$2,325
-40.05%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Charles Town, WV
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$532COPย 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5
168.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Last update for Charles Town, WV: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Medellin and $1,613 in Charles Town, WV. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $33 in Medellin vs $59 in Charles Town, WV for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $499 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 Charles Town, WV: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Charles Town, WV?
Medellin wins on cost โ living expenses run 163% 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 vs Charles Town, WV?
You'd need roughly $1,544 in Medellin and $4,059 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 vs Charles Town, WV?
Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Medellin versus $1,613 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 Charles Town, WV?
Supermarket bills run roughly 162% 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 $1,030 per month in Medellin versus $2,706 in Charles Town, WV โ a 163% 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 Charles Town, WV?
At $1,030 in Medellin versus $2,706 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 โ similar infrastructure at $1,030 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 โ expenses run 163% less than in Charles Town, WV. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.