Cost of Living Comparison Between La Marsa and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between La Marsa and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $753 per month in La Marsa vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,361 per month in La Marsa vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,968 per month in La Marsa vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

La Marsa is about 27% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both La Marsa and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – La Marsa 44% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.31 TND 9.56

$5.92 COP 21.5K

-44.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.85 TND 63.2

$32.75 COP 119.1K

-33.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.17 TND 12.04

$7.20 COP 26.2K

-42.08%

Cappuccino

$0.71 TND 2.06

$1.70 COP 6,186

-58.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 TND 1.85

$1.10 COP 3,996

-41.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 TND 0.66

$0.72 COP 2,625

-68.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 TND 4.31

$1.67 COP 6,067

-10.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.51 TND 7.26

$3.10 COP 11.3K

-19.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.50 TND 1.45

$1.06 COP 3,837

-52.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.18 TND 0.53

$1.25 COP 4,531

-85.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 TND 4.34

$1.39 COP 5,060

7.91%

Eggs

$1.63 TND 4.70

$2.26 COP 8,229

-27.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.19 TND 32.35

$4.33 COP 15.8K

158.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 TND 16.85

$5.84 COP 21.2K

-0.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.33 TND 38.52

$8.83 COP 32.1K

50.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 TND 5.43

$2.24 COP 8,159

-16.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.95 TND 8.52

$1.08 COP 3,911

173.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 TND 3.05

$1.53 COP 5,563

-30.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 TND 1.98

$1.37 COP 4,987

-49.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 TND 1.87

$1.13 COP 4,109

-42.48%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 TND 1.36

$1.12 COP 4,067

-58.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 TND 1.05

$0.85 COP 3,080

-57.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 TND 0.72

$0.91 COP 3,305

-72.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 TND 9.95

$2.33 COP 8,477

47.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.74 TND 19.47

$11.13 COP 40.5K

-39.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 TND 3.31

$1.19 COP 4,342

-4.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 TND 3.06

$2.37 COP 8,617

-55.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 TND 1.03

$0.79 COP 2,859

-54.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.69 TND 19.33

$41.13 COP 149.6K

-83.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.31 TND 0.91

$1.44 COP 5,223

-78.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 TND 0.64

$1.91 COP 6,952

-88.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.02 TND 11.62

$8.02 COP 29.2K

-49.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 TND 2.56

$0.94 COP 3,410

-5.32%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.4K TND 99.3K

$17.9K COP 65.2M

91.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.2K TND 78.5K

$26.8K COP 97.4M

1.40%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$34.35 TND 99.3

$84.0 COP 305.4K

-59.09%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.48 TND 27.39

$9.60 COP 34.9K

-1.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.92 TND 43.11

$24.16 COP 87.9K

-38.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.19 TND 131

$25.88 COP 94.1K

74.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.53 TND 21.75

$19.04 COP 69.3K

-60.45%

Cinema Ticket

$4.52 TND 13.08

$3.92 COP 14.2K

15.31%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$86.2 TND 249

$306 COP 1.1M

-71.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,347 TND 6,782

$5,919 COP 21.5M

-60.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.18 TND 131

$57.9 COP 210.6K

-21.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.52 TND 129

$31.82 COP 115.7K

39.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.3 TND 261

$99.9 COP 363.3K

-9.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.1 TND 191

$107 COP 389.7K

-38.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 TND 1,023

$487 COP 1.8M

-27.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$282 TND 816

$368 COP 1.3M

-23.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$775 TND 2,239

$826 COP 3.0M

-6.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$808 TND 2,335

$716 COP 2.6M

12.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,891 TND 5,465

$2,925 COP 10.6M

-35.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,061 TND 3,066

$1,407 COP 5.1M

-24.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$339 TND 981

$546 COP 2.0M

-37.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.6

13.43

1.27%

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

Last update for La Marsa: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $354 in La Marsa versus $487 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 61% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in La Marsa versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $190 – making La Marsa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

La Marsa vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,129 per month in La Marsa and $1,550 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in La Marsa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $753 in La Marsa and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 515% less in La Marsa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Marsa, where all-in costs run around $753, than in Medellin at $1,034. In La Marsa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward La Marsa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with La Marsa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.