😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,304 in Cleveland, TN versus $1,030 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,526 in Cleveland, TN versus $1,586 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,747 in Cleveland, TN versus $2,143 in Medellin.
😐Living in Cleveland, TN is roughly 124% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cleveland, TN is 72% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.24$15.24
$5.92COP 21.2K
157.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.47$40.47
$33.17COP 118.7K
22.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.14$10.14
$7.25COP 25.9K
39.86%
Cappuccino
$4.67$4.67
$1.71COP 6,137
173.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99$1.99
$1.09COP 3,915
82.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63$1.63
$0.77COP 2,743
111.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.04$6.04
$1.75COP 6,254
245.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.05$7.05
$3.18COP 11.4K
121.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89$0.89
$1.06COP 3,792
-16.04%
White Bread(500g)
$2.44$2.44
$1.30COP 4,657
87.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.62$2.62
$1.38COP 4,926
89.86%
Eggs
$2.44$2.44
$2.21COP 7,908
10.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.85$9.85
$4.52COP 16.2K
117.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.74$7.74
$5.80COP 20.7K
33.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.70$11.70
$8.97COP 32.1K
30.43%
Apples(1kg)
$5.18$5.18
$2.29COP 8,182
126.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67$1.67
$1.06COP 3,791
57.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.63$3.63
$1.51COP 5,411
140.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.01$4.01
$1.36COP 4,869
194.85%
Potato(1kg)
$3.15$3.15
$1.16COP 4,146
171.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.93$1.93
$1.17COP 4,174
64.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.21$2.21
$0.83COP 2,960
166.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52$1.52
$0.85COP 3,043
78.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.68$5.68
$2.35COP 8,423
141.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.82$13.82
$11.09COP 39.7K
24.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72$1.72
$1.15COP 4,133
49.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76$4.76
$2.47COP 8,853
92.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.95$1.95
$0.79COP 2,827
146.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.85COP 149.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.06$5.06
$1.44COP 5,140
251.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53$1.53
$1.90COP 6,793
-19.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.77$17.77
$7.70COP 27.6K
130.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79$0.79
$1.03COP 3,680
-23.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
46.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K$26.7K
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
-1.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183$183
$81.4COP 291.4K
124.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.4$51.4
$9.42COP 33.7K
445.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.1$66.1
$23.77COP 85.1K
178.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.56$43.56
$25.86COP 92.6K
68.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.34COP 69.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.47$9.47
$4.05COP 14.5K
133.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,004$1,004
$312COP 1.1M
221.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,356$8,356
$6,067COP 21.7M
37.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.82$42.82
$58.9COP 210.7K
-27.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.43$36.43
$32.82COP 117.5K
11.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.2$82.2
$100COP 359.6K
-18.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.7$94.7
$106COP 380.3K
-10.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,619$1,619
$490COP 1.8M
230.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,230$1,230
$371COP 1.3M
231.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,779$2,779
$838COP 3.0M
231.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,451$2,451
$715COP 2.6M
242.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,238$2,238
$2,952COP 10.6M
-24.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,254$2,254
$1,394COP 5.0M
61.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,704$3,704
$532COP 1.9M
596.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
13.43
-55.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cleveland, TN: April 20, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,619 in Cleveland, TN and $490 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cleveland, TN pays 596% 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: $40 in Cleveland, TN vs $33 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $313 vs $190 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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 124% 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 Medellin?
Cleveland, TN pays 596% more on average, 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 vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,619 in Cleveland, TN versus $490 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Cleveland, TN or Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Cleveland, TN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Cleveland, TN compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,304 per month in Cleveland, TN versus $1,030 in Medellin – a 124% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Cleveland, TN or Medellin?
At $1,030 in Medellin versus $2,304 in Cleveland, TN, a $1,500 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 $1,030 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 124% 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