Cost of Living Comparison Between Arusha and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Arusha and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $200 per month in Arusha vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $357 per month in Arusha vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $514 per month in Arusha vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Arusha is about 81% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Arusha and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Arusha 85% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.38 TZS 8,877

$6.16 COP 20.0K

-45.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.02 TZS 73.5K

$32.60 COP 106.0K

-14.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.16 TZS 24.0K

$7.34 COP 23.9K

24.80%

Cappuccino

$1.74 TZS 4,574

$1.72 COP 5,592

1.16%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 TZS 1,127

$1.05 COP 3,416

-59.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 TZS 878

$0.77 COP 2,511

-57.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 TZS 2,832

$1.69 COP 5,480

-36.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 TZS 7,424

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-10.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 TZS 1,691

$1.05 COP 3,418

-39.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 TZS 1,492

$1.30 COP 4,230

-56.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.89 TZS 2,325

$1.40 COP 4,538

-36.43%

Eggs

$1.72 TZS 4,500

$2.16 COP 7,037

-20.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,415

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,599

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,976

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 TZS 1,967

$1.35 COP 4,405

-44.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 TZS 1,066

$1.13 COP 3,669

-63.72%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 TZS 2,572

$1.13 COP 3,687

-13.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,749

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 TZS 1,217

$0.91 COP 2,971

-49.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,619

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,904

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,094

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 TZS 506

$0.84 COP 2,724

-77.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 131.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,617

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 TZS 5,061

$1.92 COP 6,227

0.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.81 TZS 20.5K

$7.66 COP 24.9K

1.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 TZS 3,125

$0.99 COP 3,219

20.20%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.0K COP 58.6M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.6K COP 86.6M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$80.8 COP 262.7K

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.46 TZS 24.8K

$9.95 COP 32.3K

-4.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.7 TZS 133.1K

$24.18 COP 78.6K

109.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.76 TZS 9,879

$3.98 COP 13.0K

-5.53%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 COP 992.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.2K TZS 26.9M

$6,059 COP 19.7M

68.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$289 TZS 757.2K

$845 COP 2.7M

-65.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Arusha: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Arusha versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $35.00 vs $193 – making Arusha the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Arusha vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $200 in Arusha, $1,031 in Medellin – roughly 415% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $300 per month in Arusha and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Arusha and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $200 in Arusha and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Arusha, where all-in costs run around $200, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Arusha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $200 in Arusha to $1,031 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Arusha. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.