😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,316 in Cleveland, TN versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,475 in Cleveland, TN versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,633 in Cleveland, TN versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Cleveland, TN is roughly 129% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cleveland, TN is 73% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.10$15.10
$5.99COP 21.5K
152.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.24$39.24
$32.86COP 118.1K
19.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.17$10.17
$7.09COP 25.5K
43.44%
Cappuccino
$4.87$4.87
$1.71COP 6,154
184.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03$2.03
$1.10COP 3,949
84.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63$1.63
$0.78COP 2,798
108.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.89$5.89
$1.68COP 6,035
250.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.15$7.15
$3.07COP 11.0K
132.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90$0.90
$1.09COP 3,930
-17.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.32$2.32
$1.26COP 4,536
84.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.76$2.76
$1.38COP 4,953
100.00%
Eggs
$2.52$2.52
$2.19COP 7,876
15.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94$9.94
$4.40COP 15.8K
125.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.81$7.81
$5.63COP 20.2K
38.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.75$11.75
$8.89COP 32.0K
32.17%
Apples(1kg)
$4.90$4.90
$2.34COP 8,401
109.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66$1.66
$1.06COP 3,801
56.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.51$3.51
$1.50COP 5,408
134.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.87$3.87
$1.38COP 4,955
180.43%
Potato(1kg)
$3.04$3.04
$1.15COP 4,137
164.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.04$2.04
$1.16COP 4,181
75.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.19$2.19
$0.89COP 3,202
146.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54$1.54
$0.84COP 3,016
83.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.65$5.65
$2.28COP 8,196
147.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.80$13.80
$10.64COP 38.2K
29.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65$1.65
$1.20COP 4,311
37.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69$4.69
$2.47COP 8,880
89.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$0.86COP 3,075
138.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.40COP 148.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.88$4.88
$1.47COP 5,297
231.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52$1.52
$1.96COP 7,053
-22.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.93$17.93
$7.74COP 27.8K
131.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74$0.74
$0.95COP 3,430
-22.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K$26.4K
$18.1KCOP 65.2M
45.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K$26.7K
$26.5KCOP 95.2M
0.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$181$181
$82.3COP 295.6K
119.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.57$49.57
$9.50COP 34.1K
421.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.0$66.0
$24.23COP 87.1K
172.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.62$42.62
$25.89COP 93.0K
64.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00COP 68.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.03$9.03
$3.93COP 14.1K
129.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$993$993
$309COP 1.1M
221.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,421$8,421
$5,965COP 21.4M
41.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.50$42.50
$58.7COP 210.8K
-27.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44$36.44
$32.35COP 116.2K
12.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.2$81.2
$103COP 368.7K
-20.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.5$92.5
$108COP 389.6K
-14.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,637$1,637
$476COP 1.7M
243.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221$1,221
$379COP 1.4M
222.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,735$2,735
$838COP 3.0M
226.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,426$2,426
$724COP 2.6M
235.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,226$2,226
$2,791COP 10.0M
-20.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,207$2,207
$1,211COP 4.4M
82.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cleveland, TN
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,765$3,765
$512COP 1.8M
635.58%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,637 in Cleveland, TN and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cleveland, TN pays 636% 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 $311 vs $188 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 129% 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 636% 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: $1,637 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 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 $2,316 per month in Cleveland, TN versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 129% 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 $1,013 in Medellin versus $2,316 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 $1,013 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 129% 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