😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,612 in Manchester, TN versus $1,017 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,623 in Manchester, TN versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,635 in Manchester, TN versus $2,188 in Medellin.
😐Living in Manchester, TN is roughly 157% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Manchester, TN is 94% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manchester, TN
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.16$13.16
$5.95COP 20.8K
121.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.64$31.64
$33.33COP 116.3K
-5.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.08$9.08
$7.23COP 25.2K
25.59%
Cappuccino
$4.27$4.27
$1.63COP 5,687
161.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49$2.49
$1.09COP 3,821
128.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02$2.02
$0.73COP 2,548
176.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.43$6.43
$1.74COP 6,065
269.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10$4.10
$3.23COP 11.3K
26.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manchester, TN
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.88$0.88
$1.05COP 3,662
-16.19%
White Bread(500g)
$3.84$3.84
$1.29COP 4,515
197.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.56$4.56
$1.32COP 4,617
245.45%
Eggs
$4.58$4.58
$2.27COP 7,927
101.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.66$5.66
$4.35COP 15.2K
30.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.41$5.41
$5.88COP 20.5K
-7.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.08$11.08
$8.61COP 30.0K
28.69%
Apples(1kg)
$4.83$4.83
$2.25COP 7,844
114.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68$1.68
$1.07COP 3,733
57.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.46$4.46
$1.52COP 5,322
193.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.01$4.01
$1.42COP 4,964
182.39%
Potato(1kg)
$3.74$3.74
$1.17COP 4,084
219.66%
Onion(1kg)
$3.39$3.39
$1.17COP 4,077
189.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.37$2.37
$0.89COP 3,096
166.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.45$2.45
$0.90COP 3,146
172.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.61$4.61
$2.25COP 7,837
104.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.78$14.78
$11.04COP 38.5K
33.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74$1.74
$1.14COP 3,977
52.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58$1.58
$2.38COP 8,301
-33.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Manchester, TN
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.95$1.95
$0.84COP 2,916
132.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.92$2.92
$1.41COP 4,912
107.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53$1.53
$1.90COP 6,634
-19.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.15$40.15
$7.75COP 27.0K
418.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86$0.86
$1.01COP 3,509
-14.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K$33.0K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
87.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K$25.4K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-4.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manchester, TN
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$282$282
$83.7COP 292.1K
236.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.5$54.5
$9.45COP 33.0K
476.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.4$60.4
$24.11COP 84.1K
150.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manchester, TN
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.32$43.32
$25.31COP 88.3K
71.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.96$15.96
$4.10COP 14.3K
289.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manchester, TN
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,330$1,330
$312COP 1.1M
326.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$29.8K$29.8K
$5,993COP 20.9M
398.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manchester, TN
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.5$68.5
$58.0COP 202.6K
17.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.56$39.56
$32.56COP 113.6K
21.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.8$99.8
$99.6COP 347.7K
0.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126$126
$109COP 378.8K
16.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manchester, TN
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612$1,612
$482COP 1.7M
234.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,372$1,372
$379COP 1.3M
261.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,647$2,647
$837COP 2.9M
216.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,178$2,178
$723COP 2.5M
201.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,364$2,364
$2,840COP 9.9M
-16.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,693$2,693
$1,223COP 4.3M
120.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manchester, TN
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.56
13.43
-51.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Manchester, TN: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,612 in Manchester, TN and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Manchester, TN vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $331 vs $190, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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
Manchester, TN vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Manchester, TN?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 157% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,918 in Manchester, TN and $1,525 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Manchester, TN and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,612 in Manchester, TN versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Manchester, TN and Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 75% higher in Manchester, TN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Manchester, TN vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,612 per month in Manchester, TN versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 157% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Manchester, TN or Medellin?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $2,612 in Manchester, TN, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Manchester, TN. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Manchester, TN or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Manchester, TN, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 157% less than in Manchester, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Manchester, TN vs other spots: cost of living compared