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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,183 in Cleveland, TN versus $1,716 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,300 in Cleveland, TN versus $2,527 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,418 in Cleveland, TN versus $3,338 in Medellin.

Living in Cleveland, TN is roughly 27% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cleveland, TN 59% above, Medellin 25% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33 $11.33
$8.03 COP 25.1K
41.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.18 $37.18
$48.26 COP 150.8K
-22.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.95 $9.95
$9.77 COP 30.5K
1.84%
Cappuccino
$5.11 $5.11
$2.91 COP 9,095
75.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$1.94 COP 6,074
26.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.52 COP 4,754
8.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.03 $6.03
$3.09 COP 9,663
95.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.47 $7.47
$5.74 COP 17.9K
30.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.36 COP 4,262
-39.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.39 COP 7,460
-5.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.73 $2.73
$1.70 COP 5,314
60.59%
Eggs
$2.46 $2.46
$2.87 COP 8,967
-14.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.93 $8.93
$9.94 COP 31.1K
-10.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.61 $5.61
$10.78 COP 33.7K
-47.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.43 $10.43
$14.73 COP 46.0K
-29.19%
Apples (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$4.09 COP 12.8K
-3.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.57 COP 4,911
-14.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.74 $3.74
$2.13 COP 6,642
75.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.21 COP 6,917
39.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 $1.54
$2.05 COP 6,396
-24.88%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.50 COP 4,700
51.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.19 COP 3,718
78.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 $1.92
$1.16 COP 3,619
65.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.74 $7.74
$3.90 COP 12.2K
98.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.23 $14.23
$14.44 COP 45.1K
-1.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 $1.72
$1.58 COP 4,948
8.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 $3.18
$2.83 COP 8,836
12.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.17 COP 3,650
69.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$96.4 $96.4
$77.7 COP 242.9K
23.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.28 COP 4,014
66.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.89 $1.89
$2.09 COP 6,537
-9.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.32 $32.32
$8.62 COP 26.9K
274.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.30 COP 4,056
-33.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$27.7K COP 86.4M
-7.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$35.5K COP 110.9M
-27.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 $169
$176 COP 550.1K
-3.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67.7 $67.7
$13.37 COP 41.8K
406.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.75 $45.75
$29.89 COP 93.4K
53.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.50 $25.50
$44.76 COP 139.8K
-43.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.06 COP 53.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.05 $10.05
$6.20 COP 19.4K
62.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,548 $1,548
$793 COP 2.5M
95.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,401 $8,401
$9,019 COP 28.2M
-6.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.82 $32.82
$85.6 COP 267.5K
-61.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6 $51.6
$58.5 COP 182.7K
-11.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 $86.1
$136 COP 425.9K
-36.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.4 $88.4
$103 COP 322.2K
-14.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,556 $1,556
$1,060 COP 3.3M
46.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,107 $1,107
$680 COP 2.1M
62.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,411 $2,411
$2,012 COP 6.3M
19.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 $2,137
$1,169 COP 3.7M
82.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,184 $2,184
$4,111 COP 12.8M
-46.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 $2,241
$1,701 COP 5.3M
31.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,635 $3,635
$665 COP 2.1M
446.49%
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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,556 in Cleveland, TN and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cleveland, TN pays 446% 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: $37.00 in Cleveland, TN vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $280 vs $303 per month, with Cleveland, TN 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 27% 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 446% 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: $1,556 in Cleveland, TN versus $1,060 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 $1,548 in Cleveland, TN versus $793 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 $1,716 in Medellin versus $2,183 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 $1,716 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 27% less than in Cleveland, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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