Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Athens, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Athens, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $2,586 in Athens, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $3,667 in Athens, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $4,747 in Athens, TN, rent included.

Medellin is about 61% cheaper than Athens, TN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 25% below the global median, while Athens, TN is 94% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$22.17 $22.17

-73.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$35.60 $35.60

-7.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$8.80 $8.80

-15.57%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.95 $2.95

-44.07%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$2.05 $2.05

-46.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$2.00 $2.00

-61.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$6.68 $6.68

-74.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$8.11 $8.11

-60.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.03 $1.03

6.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$2.37 $2.37

-46.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$4.67 $4.67

-70.45%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$4.49 $4.49

-51.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$13.63 $13.63

-67.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$6.74 $6.74

-14.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$11.24 $11.24

-20.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$4.27 $4.27

-45.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.38 $1.38

-23.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$4.70 $4.70

-67.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$3.95 $3.95

-65.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$3.69 $3.69

-69.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$3.52 $3.52

-66.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$2.29 $2.29

-60.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.89 $1.89

-52.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$6.98 $6.98

-68.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$14.87 $14.87

-18.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.75 $1.75

-32.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.58 $1.58

56.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$2.04 $2.04

-58.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$3.05 $3.05

-53.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.46 $1.46

33.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$39.27 $39.27

-79.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.79 $0.79

25.32%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$32.3K $32.3K

-45.52%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$26.3K $26.3K

1.73%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$242 $242

-65.70%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$53.3 $53.3

-81.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$58.3 $58.3

-59.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$43.19 $43.19

-41.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$8.01 $8.01

-50.69%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$1,359 $1,359

-76.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$30.5K $30.5K

-80.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$69.3 $69.3

-13.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$39.70 $39.70

-19.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$100 $100

1.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$130 $130

-17.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$1,615 $1,615

-70.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$1,364 $1,364

-72.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$2,665 $2,665

-68.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$2,250 $2,250

-68.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,985 $1,985

64.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$2,040 $2,040

-29.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$8,427 $8,427

-92.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

6.56

104.73%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Athens, TN: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $1,615 in Athens, TN. 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 1250% higher in Athens, TN, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $36.00 in Athens, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $339 – making Medellin 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

Medellin vs Athens, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Athens, TN costs about 158% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $3,879 in Athens, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $36.00 in Athens, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 75% more in Athens, TN, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Athens, TN at $2,586. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Athens, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,003 versus $2,586 in Athens, TN. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Athens, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.