Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Charleston, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Charleston, SC

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 50.9% cheaper than Charleston, SC without rent, and 65.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 52.1% cheaper than Charleston, SC without rent, and 61.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Charleston, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$17.95 $17.95
-65.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$79.7 $79.7
-59.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$9.9 $9.9
-25.35%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$5.04 $5.04
-65.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$2.42 $2.42
-54.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$1.95 $1.95
-62.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$5.9 $5.9
-71.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$7.94 $7.94
-59.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Charleston, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1 $1
9.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$3.75 $3.75
-66.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$3.22 $3.22
-58.70%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$4.45 $4.45
-50.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$13.9 $13.9
-67.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$15.05 $15.05
-62.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$17.03 $17.03
-49.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$5.79 $5.79
-60.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.66 $1.66
-35.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$6.68 $6.68
-77.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$4.02 $4.02
-64.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$3.67 $3.67
-69.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$2.76 $2.76
-57.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.78 $1.78
-50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$1.87 $1.87
-55.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$7.62 $7.62
-69.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$17.74 $17.74
-47.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.78 $1.78
-33.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$3.32 $3.32
-25.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Charleston, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$1.96 $1.96
-57.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$57.3 $57.3
-26.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$2.91 $2.91
-51.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$1.53 $1.53
28.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$20.37 $20.37
-61.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$0.84 $0.84
21.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$32.7K $32.7K
-46.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$24.6K $24.6K
6.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Charleston, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$141 $141
-41.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$54.8 $54.8
-82.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$73.4 $73.4
-67.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Charleston, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$29.53 $29.53
-13.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$18.1 $18.1
5.75%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$13.29 $13.29
-70.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Charleston, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$1,313 $1,313
-76.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$24.2K $24.2K
-75.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Charleston, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$49.68 $49.68
16.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$36.64 $36.64
-13.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$94.6 $94.6
9.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$153 $153
-31.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Charleston, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$2,577 $2,577
-81.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$1,687 $1,687
-77.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$4,414 $4,414
-81.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$2,638 $2,638
-72.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$4,656 $4,656
-52.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$3,200 $3,200
-52.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Charleston, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$4,603 $4,603
-88.05%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Charleston, SC: October 27, 2025

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