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 $792 per month in La Marsa vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,318 per month in La Marsa vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,843 per month in La Marsa vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

La Marsa is about 53% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

La Marsa sits 42% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 TND 9.65

$8.02 COP 25.0K

-58.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.55 TND 59.6

$47.87 COP 149.4K

-57.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 TND 15.71

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-45.20%

Cappuccino

$1.28 TND 3.72

$3.13 COP 9,767

-59.11%

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

$0.58 TND 1.68

$1.91 COP 5,954

-69.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 TND 0.75

$1.51 COP 4,712

-82.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 TND 4.37

$3.12 COP 9,747

-51.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 TND 6.11

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-63.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.52 TND 1.50

$1.44 COP 4,509

-63.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.32 TND 0.94

$2.49 COP 7,759

-87.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 TND 6.78

$1.77 COP 5,535

32.20%

Eggs

$1.90 TND 5.50

$2.96 COP 9,235

-35.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.13 TND 29.39

$10.07 COP 31.4K

0.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.85 TND 19.88

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-32.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.35 TND 38.71

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-6.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 TND 5.91

$4.14 COP 12.9K

-50.72%

Banana (1kg)

$3.71 TND 10.75

$1.61 COP 5,019

130.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 TND 4.32

$2.25 COP 7,007

-33.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 TND 1.87

$2.25 COP 7,028

-71.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 TND 1.62

$2.04 COP 6,375

-72.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 TND 1.83

$1.54 COP 4,790

-59.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 TND 1.22

$1.17 COP 3,651

-64.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 TND 0.91

$1.31 COP 4,077

-76.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.85 TND 11.15

$3.90 COP 12.2K

-1.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.92 TND 20.09

$14.01 COP 43.7K

-50.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 TND 3.74

$1.74 COP 5,439

-25.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 TND 4.81

$2.87 COP 8,956

-42.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 TND 0.95

$1.22 COP 3,792

-72.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.30 TND 21.17

$80.5 COP 251.1K

-90.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 TND 0.94

$1.31 COP 4,084

-75.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 TND 1.25

$2.19 COP 6,825

-80.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.03 TND 11.70

$8.71 COP 27.2K

-53.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 TND 2.56

$1.37 COP 4,260

-35.77%

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

$38.5K TND 111.7K

$27.8K COP 86.9M

38.38%

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

$32.2K TND 93.3K

$35.8K COP 111.6M

-10.06%

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

$35.46 TND 103

$177 COP 553.2K

-80.00%

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

$12.86 TND 37.30

$13.88 COP 43.3K

-7.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.48 TND 53.6

$29.72 COP 92.8K

-37.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.76 TND 124

$44.88 COP 140.1K

-4.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.25 TND 21.02

$17.12 COP 53.4K

-57.65%

Cinema Ticket

$5.55 TND 16.11

$6.65 COP 20.7K

-16.54%

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

$60.7 TND 176

$813 COP 2.5M

-92.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,657 TND 7,708

$9,187 COP 28.7M

-71.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.2 TND 189

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-27.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.8 TND 211

$59.0 COP 184.0K

23.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.7 TND 266

$138 COP 431.2K

-33.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.0 TND 273

$102 COP 318.7K

-8.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$290 TND 842

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-72.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 TND 697

$663 COP 2.1M

-63.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$710 TND 2,060

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-62.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$579 TND 1,680

$1,027 COP 3.2M

-43.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,864 TND 5,406

$4,183 COP 13.1M

-55.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,034 TND 3,000

$1,675 COP 5.2M

-38.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$340 TND 987

$678 COP 2.1M

-49.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

27.97%

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

Last update for La Marsa: September 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $290 in La Marsa versus $1,062 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 99% 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 $21.00 in La Marsa versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $305 – 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 112%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,188 per month in La Marsa and $2,521 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 $792 in La Marsa and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1002% 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 $792, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.