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 $758 per month in La Marsa vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,346 per month in La Marsa vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,935 per month in La Marsa vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

La Marsa is about 25% 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 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.35 TND 9.77

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-43.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.69 TND 63.3

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-34.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.09 TND 11.94

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-43.43%

Cappuccino

$0.71 TND 2.07

$1.63 COP 5,687

-56.44%

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

$0.65 TND 1.89

$1.09 COP 3,821

-40.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 TND 0.73

$0.73 COP 2,548

-65.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.49 TND 4.36

$1.74 COP 6,065

-14.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 TND 7.30

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-22.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.51 TND 1.48

$1.05 COP 3,662

-51.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.18 TND 0.54

$1.29 COP 4,515

-86.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 TND 4.39

$1.32 COP 4,617

14.39%

Eggs

$1.59 TND 4.63

$2.27 COP 7,927

-29.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.07 TND 32.31

$4.35 COP 15.2K

154.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.62 TND 16.40

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-4.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.31 TND 38.84

$8.61 COP 30.0K

54.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 TND 5.49

$2.25 COP 7,844

-16.44%

Banana (1kg)

$3.02 TND 8.81

$1.07 COP 3,733

182.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 TND 3.05

$1.52 COP 5,322

-30.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 TND 1.97

$1.42 COP 4,964

-52.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 TND 1.88

$1.17 COP 4,084

-45.30%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 TND 1.47

$1.17 COP 4,077

-57.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 TND 1.07

$0.89 COP 3,096

-58.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 TND 0.73

$0.90 COP 3,146

-72.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.42 TND 9.96

$2.25 COP 7,837

52.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.00 TND 20.43

$11.04 COP 38.5K

-36.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 TND 3.21

$1.14 COP 3,977

-3.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 TND 3.06

$2.38 COP 8,301

-55.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 TND 0.96

$0.84 COP 2,916

-60.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.75 TND 19.70

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-83.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.29 TND 0.84

$1.41 COP 4,912

-79.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 TND 0.64

$1.90 COP 6,634

-88.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.14 TND 12.09

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-46.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 TND 2.56

$1.01 COP 3,509

-12.87%

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

$34.8K TND 101.5K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

97.96%

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

$26.9K TND 78.4K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

1.48%

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

$34.87 TND 102

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-58.33%

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

$9.87 TND 28.80

$9.45 COP 33.0K

4.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.60 TND 42.61

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-39.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.21 TND 132

$25.31 COP 88.3K

78.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.44 TND 21.69

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-61.13%

Cinema Ticket

$4.47 TND 13.03

$4.10 COP 14.3K

9.02%

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

$85.8 TND 250

$312 COP 1.1M

-72.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,413 TND 7,039

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-59.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.40 TND 130

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-23.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.25 TND 129

$32.56 COP 113.6K

35.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 TND 263

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-9.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.2 TND 187

$109 COP 378.8K

-40.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$352 TND 1,027

$482 COP 1.7M

-26.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$279 TND 815

$379 COP 1.3M

-26.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$776 TND 2,263

$837 COP 2.9M

-7.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$829 TND 2,420

$723 COP 2.5M

14.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,842 TND 5,374

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-35.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,070 TND 3,120

$1,223 COP 4.3M

-12.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$348 TND 1,014

$541 COP 1.9M

-35.74%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $352 in La Marsa versus $482 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 56% 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 34%, 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 $1,136 per month in La Marsa and $1,525 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 $758 in La Marsa and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 521% 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 $758, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.