😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,265 in Cleveland, TN versus $1,018 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,432 in Cleveland, TN versus $1,609 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,599 in Cleveland, TN versus $2,200 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Cleveland, TN is roughly 123% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cleveland, TN is 70% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.74$14.74
$5.93COP 19.0K
148.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.42$39.42
$33.12COP 106.0K
19.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.06$10.06
$7.12COP 22.8K
41.29%
Cappuccino
$4.74$4.74
$1.71COP 5,457
177.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02$2.02
$1.05COP 3,356
92.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66$1.66
$0.72COP 2,311
130.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.06$6.06
$1.72COP 5,502
252.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.88$6.88
$3.17COP 10.2K
117.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89$0.89
$1.06COP 3,408
-16.04%
White Bread(500g)
$2.42$2.42
$1.31COP 4,192
84.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.71$2.71
$1.33COP 4,256
103.76%
Eggs
$2.46$2.46
$2.28COP 7,298
7.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.72$9.72
$4.42COP 14.1K
119.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.57$7.57
$5.92COP 18.9K
27.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.01$12.01
$8.64COP 27.7K
39.00%
Apples(1kg)
$5.07$5.07
$2.34COP 7,504
116.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59$1.59
$1.10COP 3,527
44.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.62$3.62
$1.47COP 4,698
146.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.94$3.94
$1.38COP 4,415
185.51%
Potato(1kg)
$3.04$3.04
$1.17COP 3,754
159.83%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02$2.02
$1.17COP 3,744
72.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.18$2.18
$0.90COP 2,890
142.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.51$1.51
$0.84COP 2,693
79.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.42$5.42
$2.33COP 7,449
132.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.94$13.94
$11.92COP 38.1K
16.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72$1.72
$1.15COP 3,673
49.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71$4.71
$2.42COP 7,749
94.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.03$2.03
$0.84COP 2,687
141.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.83COP 130.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.96$4.96
$1.41COP 4,517
251.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58$1.58
$1.91COP 6,127
-17.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.74$17.74
$7.83COP 25.0K
126.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76$0.76
$0.94COP 3,020
-19.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K$26.2K
$17.8KCOP 57.0M
47.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K$26.6K
$27.1KCOP 86.7M
-1.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$181$181
$83.3COP 266.4K
117.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.3$51.3
$9.66COP 30.9K
431.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.8$66.8
$24.22COP 77.5K
175.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.06$43.06
$25.22COP 80.7K
70.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.33COP 61.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.33$9.33
$4.07COP 13.0K
129.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$984$984
$307COP 981.2K
220.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,263$8,263
$5,981COP 19.1M
38.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.45$42.45
$60.0COP 191.9K
-29.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.13$36.13
$32.65COP 104.5K
10.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3$80.3
$101COP 323.5K
-20.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.3$94.3
$108COP 345.7K
-12.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,619$1,619
$476COP 1.5M
240.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,227$1,227
$379COP 1.2M
224.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,732$2,732
$816COP 2.6M
234.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,496$2,496
$707COP 2.3M
252.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,216$2,216
$3,190COP 10.2M
-30.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,196$2,196
$1,446COP 4.6M
51.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,736$3,736
$622COP 2.0M
500.92%
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: July 20, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,619 in Cleveland, TN and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cleveland, TN pays 501% 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: $39.00 in Cleveland, TN vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $192 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 123% 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 501% 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: $1,619 in Cleveland, TN versus $476 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 in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 62% 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 $2,265 per month in Cleveland, TN versus $1,018 in Medellin – a 123% 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 in Medellin?
At $1,018 in Medellin versus $2,265 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 $1,018 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 123% 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