Cost of Living Comparison Between Chattanooga, TN and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Chattanooga, TN and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,555 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,769 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,983 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Chattanooga, TN costs about 148% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chattanooga, TN sits 91% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.48 $16.48

$6.16 COP 19.8K

167.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.5 $81.5

$32.60 COP 104.8K

150.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.12 $11.12

$7.34 COP 23.6K

51.50%

Cappuccino

$4.82 $4.82

$1.72 COP 5,527

180.23%

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

$2.49 $2.49

$1.05 COP 3,376

137.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$0.77 COP 2,482

179.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$1.69 COP 5,417

245.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.63 $7.63

$3.17 COP 10.2K

140.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 $1.03

$1.05 COP 3,379

-1.90%

White Bread (500g)

$3.62 $3.62

$1.30 COP 4,181

178.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$1.40 COP 4,485

247.86%

Eggs

$4.16 $4.16

$2.16 COP 6,956

92.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.71 $13.71

$4.39 COP 14.1K

212.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.95 $13.95

$5.88 COP 18.9K

137.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.52 $12.52

$8.64 COP 27.8K

44.91%

Apples (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$2.28 COP 7,330

185.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.11 COP 3,557

36.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$1.53 COP 4,918

188.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.67 $3.67

$1.35 COP 4,353

171.85%

Potato (1kg)

$3.32 $3.32

$1.13 COP 3,627

193.81%

Onion (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$1.13 COP 3,644

194.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 $2.36

$0.85 COP 2,717

177.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$0.91 COP 2,937

228.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.40 $7.40

$2.34 COP 7,531

216.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.94 $17.94

$12.37 COP 39.7K

45.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.20 COP 3,859

65.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 $3.54

$2.49 COP 8,000

42.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.91 $3.91

$0.84 COP 2,692

365.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.12 $49.12

$40.57 COP 130.4K

21.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.42 COP 4,563

26.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.92 COP 6,155

-21.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.39 $24.39

$7.66 COP 24.6K

218.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 $0.73

$0.99 COP 3,181

-26.26%

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

$24.8K $24.8K

$18.0K COP 57.9M

37.75%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$26.6K COP 85.6M

-2.34%

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

$142 $142

$80.8 COP 259.7K

75.77%

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

$56.5 $56.5

$9.95 COP 32.0K

468.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.5 $71.5

$24.18 COP 77.7K

195.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.95 $39.95

$25.08 COP 80.6K

59.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 61.5K

Cinema Ticket

$12.73 $12.73

$3.98 COP 12.8K

219.85%

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

$1,030 $1,030

$305 COP 980.7K

237.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K $25.0K

$6,059 COP 19.5M

312.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.03 $42.03

$58.1 COP 186.8K

-27.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.39 $31.39

$32.20 COP 103.5K

-2.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 $98.9

$101 COP 323.7K

-1.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$108 COP 346.3K

3.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,521 $1,521

$477 COP 1.5M

219.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,250 $1,250

$376 COP 1.2M

232.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,645 $3,645

$845 COP 2.7M

331.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,097 $2,097

$730 COP 2.3M

187.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,286 $2,286

$3,215 COP 10.3M

-28.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,272 $2,272

$1,372 COP 4.4M

65.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,980 $3,980

$617 COP 2.0M

545.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.45

13.43

-51.97%

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

Last update for Chattanooga, TN: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,521 in Chattanooga, TN versus $477 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 545% higher in Chattanooga, TN, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Chattanooga, TN versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $424 vs $193 – making Medellin 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

Chattanooga, TN vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chattanooga, TN costs about 148% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,833 per month in Chattanooga, TN and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,555 in Chattanooga, TN and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 21% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Chattanooga, TN at $2,555. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chattanooga, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,031 versus $2,555 in Chattanooga, TN. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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