πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $397 in At Tafilah.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $713 in At Tafilah.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $1,029 in At Tafilah.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 156% more expensive than At Tafilah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, At Tafilah70% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
At Tafilah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$4.26JODΒ 3.01
39.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$28.34JODΒ 20.06
17.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$5.70JODΒ 4.03
26.84%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$3.48JODΒ 2.46
-53.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$0.34JODΒ 0.24
220.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$0.46JODΒ 0.32
58.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$5.60JODΒ 3.96
-68.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$6.86JODΒ 4.86
-52.92%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
At Tafilah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$1.46JODΒ 1.03
-28.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$0.74JODΒ 0.52
74.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$1.38JODΒ 0.98
-4.35%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$1.49JODΒ 1.05
52.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$7.07JODΒ 5.00
-38.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$2.86JODΒ 2.02
105.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$1.74JODΒ 1.23
29.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$1.74JODΒ 1.23
-38.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$1.43JODΒ 1.01
6.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$0.68JODΒ 0.48
108.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$0.74JODΒ 0.52
58.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$0.68JODΒ 0.48
72.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$0.68JODΒ 0.48
30.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$0.47JODΒ 0.33
91.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$3.20JODΒ 2.26
-29.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
-
-
π Getting Around
Medellin
At Tafilah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$0.68JODΒ 0.48
23.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$0.68JODΒ 0.48
107.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
$0.68JODΒ 0.48
179.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$1.17JODΒ 0.83
-13.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
-
-
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
At Tafilah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$66.1JODΒ 46.81
26.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$21.50JODΒ 15.22
12.14%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
At Tafilah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$20.78JODΒ 14.71
21.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
-
-
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
At Tafilah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
-
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
At Tafilah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$27.84JODΒ 19.71
108.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$25.84JODΒ 18.29
26.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$28.60JODΒ 20.24
279.51%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
At Tafilah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$208JODΒ 147
303.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$142JODΒ 101
408.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
At Tafilah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for At Tafilah: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $28.00 in At Tafilah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $109 per month, with At Tafilah cheaper across the board.
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
Medellin vs At Tafilah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is At Tafilah cheaper than Medellin?
At Tafilah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 156% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,525 in Medellin and $595 in At Tafilah 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.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and At Tafilah?
Supermarket bills run roughly 74% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or At Tafilah?
Dining out is cheaper in At Tafilah β a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or At Tafilah?
At $397 in At Tafilah versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in At Tafilah but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes At Tafilah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or At Tafilah more family-friendly?
For families, At Tafilah is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or At Tafilah?
Safety-wise, Medellin and At Tafilah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find At Tafilah gentler on the wallet β expenses run 156% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.