Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cleveland, TN and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Medellin: $1,625 a month against $2,178 in Cleveland, TN, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cleveland, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,178
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cleveland, TN and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cleveland, TN and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,178 in Cleveland, TN versus $1,625 in Medellin.

  • Cleveland, TN $2,178
  • Medellin $1,625

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,239 in Cleveland, TN versus $2,412 in Medellin.

  • Cleveland, TN $3,239
  • Medellin $2,412

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,300 in Cleveland, TN versus $3,199 in Medellin.

  • Cleveland, TN $4,300
  • Medellin $3,199

Living in Cleveland, TN is roughly 34% more expensive than in Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cleveland, TN 61% above, Medellin 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.38 $11.38
$8.30 COP 26.3K
37.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.91 $37.91
$46.91 COP 148.7K
-19.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.94 $9.94
$9.24 COP 29.3K
7.58%
Cappuccino
$4.89 $4.89
$3.05 COP 9,676
60.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.80 COP 5,707
31.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 $1.59
$1.38 COP 4,382
15.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.99 $5.99
$3.24 COP 10.3K
84.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.62 $7.62
$5.56 COP 17.6K
37.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$1.50 COP 4,760
-43.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 $2.30
$2.37 COP 7,508
-2.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.69 $2.69
$1.70 COP 5,377
58.24%
Eggs
$2.49 $2.49
$2.96 COP 9,379
-15.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.87 $8.87
$10.22 COP 32.4K
-13.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.57 $5.57
$9.74 COP 30.9K
-42.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.43 $10.43
$13.90 COP 44.1K
-24.96%
Apples (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$4.13 COP 13.1K
-8.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 $1.35
$1.53 COP 4,839
-11.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.30 $3.30
$2.22 COP 7,052
48.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.95 $2.95
$2.27 COP 7,194
29.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.99 COP 6,311
-25.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.67 COP 5,285
36.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 $2.14
$1.18 COP 3,742
81.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$1.24 COP 3,919
52.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.05 $8.05
$3.87 COP 12.3K
108.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.95 $13.95
$13.78 COP 43.7K
1.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.66 COP 5,256
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 $3.14
$2.40 COP 7,615
30.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.24 COP 3,944
57.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.5 $96.5
$78.2 COP 248.0K
23.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.28 COP 4,044
62.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$2.15 COP 6,803
-12.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.95 $31.95
$8.37 COP 26.5K
281.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.35 COP 4,288
-31.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$34.8K COP 110.2M
-26.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$34.7K COP 110.0M
-26.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 $169
$167 COP 528.4K
1.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.5 $67.5
$13.62 COP 43.2K
395.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.29 $47.29
$29.12 COP 92.3K
62.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.73 $24.73
$45.09 COP 143.0K
-45.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.18 COP 54.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.96 $9.96
$6.97 COP 22.1K
42.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,520 $1,520
$790 COP 2.5M
92.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,445 $8,445
$9,041 COP 28.7M
-6.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.03 $33.03
$87.8 COP 278.4K
-62.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.9 $52.9
$58.2 COP 184.4K
-8.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.4 $87.4
$139 COP 440.7K
-37.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.0 $91.0
$98.9 COP 313.5K
-7.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,576 $1,576
$1,028 COP 3.3M
53.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,100 $1,100
$620 COP 2.0M
77.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,388 $2,388
$1,881 COP 6.0M
26.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,077 $2,077
$1,008 COP 3.2M
106.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,168 $2,168
$3,988 COP 12.6M
-45.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,246 $2,246
$1,702 COP 5.4M
32.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,628 $3,628
$663 COP 2.1M
446.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.82
10.94
-46.80%

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

Last update for Cleveland, TN: October 19, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cleveland, TN
$1.1K
Medellin
$619 43.7% $480
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cleveland, TN
$283
Medellin
$209 26.1% $74
Groceries & Markets
Cleveland, TN
$276
Medellin
$298 8.1% $22
Eating Out
Cleveland, TN
$240
Medellin
$171 29% $70
Clothing & Footwear
Cleveland, TN
$119
Medellin
$173 45.2% $54
Getting Around
Cleveland, TN
$116
Medellin
$95 17.8% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Cleveland, TN
$45
Medellin
$59 32.2% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,576 in Cleveland, TN and $1,028 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cleveland, TN pays 447% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Cleveland, TN vs $47.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $298 per month, with Cleveland, TN cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Cleveland, TN
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
08:25 8:25 AM
07:25 7:25 AM
1 h behind Cleveland, TN
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
367,991
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cleveland, TN Medellin 3,350 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Cleveland, TN
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Cleveland, TN vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cleveland, TN or Medellin?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Cleveland, TN. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cleveland, TN or in Medellin?
Average pay runs 447% higher in Cleveland, TN, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cleveland, TN compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,576 in Cleveland, TN versus $1,028 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Cleveland, TN and in Medellin?
Childcare runs $1,520 in Cleveland, TN versus $790 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Cleveland, TN or in Medellin?
Shoppers in Cleveland, TN pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Cleveland, TN or in Medellin?
At $1,625 in Medellin versus $2,178 in Cleveland, TN, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Cleveland, TN. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cleveland, TN or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,625 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Cleveland, TN compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Cleveland, TN and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Cleveland, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Cleveland, TN vs other spots: cost of living compared

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