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 $2,517 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,681 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,845 per month in Chattanooga, TN vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Chattanooga, TN costs about 149% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chattanooga, TN sits 88% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.63 $16.63

$5.99 COP 21.3K

177.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.7 $78.7

$32.86 COP 116.9K

139.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.17 $11.17

$7.09 COP 25.2K

57.55%

Cappuccino

$4.80 $4.80

$1.71 COP 6,093

180.70%

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

$2.57 $2.57

$1.10 COP 3,910

133.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

$0.78 COP 2,771

165.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$1.68 COP 5,976

267.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.62 $7.62

$3.07 COP 10.9K

148.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.09 COP 3,892

-8.26%

White Bread (500g)

$3.62 $3.62

$1.26 COP 4,492

187.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.71 $4.71

$1.38 COP 4,905

241.30%

Eggs

$4.23 $4.23

$2.19 COP 7,799

93.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.85 $13.85

$4.40 COP 15.7K

214.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.67 $13.67

$5.63 COP 20.0K

142.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.82 $12.82

$8.89 COP 31.6K

44.21%

Apples (1kg)

$6.45 $6.45

$2.34 COP 8,319

175.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.06 COP 3,764

42.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.22 $4.22

$1.50 COP 5,355

181.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.63 $3.63

$1.38 COP 4,906

163.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$1.15 COP 4,097

190.43%

Onion (1kg)

$3.39 $3.39

$1.16 COP 4,141

192.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 $2.28

$0.89 COP 3,170

156.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$0.84 COP 2,986

261.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.29 $7.29

$2.28 COP 8,116

219.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.72 $15.72

$10.64 COP 37.9K

47.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$1.20 COP 4,268

65.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.47 COP 8,793

44.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$4.05 $4.05

$0.86 COP 3,045

370.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.1 $50.1

$41.40 COP 147.3K

20.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.47 COP 5,245

17.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.96 COP 6,984

-19.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.68 $23.68

$7.74 COP 27.5K

205.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 $0.78

$0.95 COP 3,397

-17.89%

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

$24.7K $24.7K

$18.1K COP 64.5M

36.07%

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

$25.5K $25.5K

$26.5K COP 94.2M

-3.71%

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

$141 $141

$82.3 COP 292.7K

71.82%

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

$57.0 $57.0

$9.50 COP 33.8K

500.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.2 $71.2

$24.23 COP 86.2K

193.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.18 $40.18

$25.89 COP 92.1K

55.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.6K

Cinema Ticket

$12.61 $12.61

$3.93 COP 14.0K

220.87%

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

$1,009 $1,009

$309 COP 1.1M

226.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.3K $25.3K

$5,965 COP 21.2M

323.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.01 $42.01

$58.7 COP 208.7K

-28.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.83 $31.83

$32.35 COP 115.1K

-1.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.9 $96.9

$103 COP 365.1K

-5.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$108 COP 385.8K

4.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,491 $1,491

$476 COP 1.7M

213.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,269 $1,269

$379 COP 1.3M

234.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,630 $3,630

$838 COP 3.0M

333.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,164 $2,164

$724 COP 2.6M

198.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,281 $2,281

$2,791 COP 9.9M

-18.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,241 $2,241

$1,211 COP 4.3M

84.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,918 $3,918

$512 COP 1.8M

665.57%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,491 in Chattanooga, TN versus $476 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 666% 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 $79.0 in Chattanooga, TN versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $418 vs $188 – 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 149% 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 $3,776 per month in Chattanooga, TN and $1,519 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 $2,517 in Chattanooga, TN and $1,013 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 $1,013, than in Chattanooga, TN at $2,517. 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 $1,013 versus $2,517 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.