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 $775 per month in La Marsa vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,371 per month in La Marsa vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,967 per month in La Marsa vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

La Marsa is about 23% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both La Marsa and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – La Marsa 42% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 TND 10.09

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-41.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.43 TND 65.8

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-31.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.05 TND 11.88

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-45.49%

Cappuccino

$0.76 TND 2.24

$1.65 COP 5,207

-53.94%

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

$0.60 TND 1.75

$1.10 COP 3,468

-45.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 TND 0.67

$0.78 COP 2,458

-70.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 TND 4.50

$1.72 COP 5,412

-11.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 TND 7.63

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-18.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.50 TND 1.48

$1.10 COP 3,474

-54.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.19 TND 0.56

$1.26 COP 3,962

-84.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.48 TND 4.33

$1.38 COP 4,349

7.25%

Eggs

$1.65 TND 4.84

$2.18 COP 6,858

-24.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.15 TND 32.71

$4.49 COP 14.1K

148.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.53 TND 16.23

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-4.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.45 TND 39.46

$8.97 COP 28.2K

49.94%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 TND 5.55

$2.32 COP 7,308

-18.53%

Banana (1kg)

$2.95 TND 8.66

$1.06 COP 3,352

178.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 TND 3.09

$1.52 COP 4,774

-30.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 TND 1.98

$1.36 COP 4,270

-50.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 TND 1.97

$1.13 COP 3,552

-40.71%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 TND 1.40

$1.17 COP 3,689

-58.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 TND 1.08

$0.90 COP 2,838

-58.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 TND 0.79

$0.90 COP 2,823

-70.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.48 TND 10.21

$2.23 COP 7,034

56.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.57 TND 19.29

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-45.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 TND 3.25

$1.19 COP 3,743

-6.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 TND 3.22

$2.48 COP 7,815

-55.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 TND 0.97

$0.85 COP 2,687

-61.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.66 TND 19.53

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-84.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.31 TND 0.92

$1.42 COP 4,459

-78.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 TND 0.65

$1.95 COP 6,141

-88.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.12 TND 12.10

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-47.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 TND 2.42

$0.99 COP 3,118

-17.17%

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

$35.1K TND 103.0K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

99.38%

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

$27.6K TND 80.9K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

2.82%

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

$35.23 TND 103

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-57.56%

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

$9.87 TND 28.96

$9.70 COP 30.5K

1.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.66 TND 43.03

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-37.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.21 TND 133

$25.26 COP 79.5K

78.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.45 TND 21.86

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-60.99%

Cinema Ticket

$4.52 TND 13.25

$3.95 COP 12.4K

14.43%

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

$84.9 TND 249

$316 COP 994.2K

-73.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,399 TND 7,041

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-59.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.13 TND 130

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-26.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.53 TND 131

$31.82 COP 100.2K

39.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 TND 261

$102 COP 320.1K

-12.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.0 TND 191

$107 COP 338.3K

-39.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$345 TND 1,013

$475 COP 1.5M

-27.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 TND 834

$374 COP 1.2M

-23.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$781 TND 2,291

$849 COP 2.7M

-8.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$836 TND 2,454

$719 COP 2.3M

16.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,807 TND 5,302

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-44.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,020 TND 2,993

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-29.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$341 TND 1,002

$624 COP 2.0M

-45.32%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $345 in La Marsa versus $475 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 83% 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: $184 vs $193 – 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 29%, 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 $1,163 per month in La Marsa and $1,504 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 $775 in La Marsa and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 525% 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 $775, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.