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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $2,316 in Cleveland, TN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $3,475 in Cleveland, TN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $4,633 in Cleveland, TN.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 56% less than in Cleveland, TN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Cleveland, TN is 73% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cleveland, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.5K
$15.10 $15.10
-60.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 118.1K
$39.24 $39.24
-16.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.5K
$10.17 $10.17
-30.29%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,154
$4.87 $4.87
-64.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,949
$2.03 $2.03
-45.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,798
$1.63 $1.63
-52.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 6,035
$5.89 $5.89
-71.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 11.0K
$7.15 $7.15
-57.06%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cleveland, TN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,930
$0.90 $0.90
21.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,536
$2.32 $2.32
-45.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,953
$2.76 $2.76
-50.00%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,876
$2.52 $2.52
-13.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.8K
$9.94 $9.94
-55.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.2K
$7.81 $7.81
-27.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 32.0K
$11.75 $11.75
-24.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,401
$4.90 $4.90
-52.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,801
$1.66 $1.66
-36.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,408
$3.51 $3.51
-57.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,955
$3.87 $3.87
-64.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,137
$3.04 $3.04
-62.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,181
$2.04 $2.04
-43.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,202
$2.19 $2.19
-59.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 3,016
$1.54 $1.54
-45.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,196
$5.65 $5.65
-59.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 38.2K
$13.80 $13.80
-22.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,311
$1.65 $1.65
-27.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,880
$4.69 $4.69
-47.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cleveland, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,075
$2.05 $2.05
-58.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 148.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,297
$4.88 $4.88
-69.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 7,053
$1.52 $1.52
28.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.8K
$17.93 $17.93
-56.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,430
$0.74 $0.74
28.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 65.2M
$26.4K $26.4K
-31.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 95.2M
$26.7K $26.7K
-0.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cleveland, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 295.6K
$181 $181
-54.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 34.1K
$49.57 $49.57
-80.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 87.1K
$66.0 $66.0
-63.29%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cleveland, TN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 93.0K
$42.62 $42.62
-39.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 68.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.1K
$9.03 $9.03
-56.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cleveland, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$993 $993
-68.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.4M
$8,421 $8,421
-29.17%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cleveland, TN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 210.8K
$42.50 $42.50
38.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 116.2K
$36.44 $36.44
-11.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 368.7K
$81.2 $81.2
26.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 389.6K
$92.5 $92.5
17.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cleveland, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$1,637 $1,637
-70.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
$1,221 $1,221
-68.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$2,735 $2,735
-69.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$2,426 $2,426
-70.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 10.0M
$2,226 $2,226
25.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.4M
$2,207 $2,207
-45.11%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cleveland, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
$3,765 $3,765
-86.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6
123.83%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cleveland, TN: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $1,637 in Cleveland, TN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cleveland, TN pays 636% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $39.00 in Cleveland, TN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $311 per month, with Medellin 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 Cleveland, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Cleveland, TN?
Medellin wins on cost – living expenses run 129% lower than in Cleveland, TN. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Medellin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Cleveland, TN?
On paper, Cleveland, TN earns 636% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Cleveland, TN?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $1,637 in Cleveland, TN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Cleveland, TN?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Cleveland, TN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Cleveland, TN?
All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $2,316 in Cleveland, TN – a 129% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Cleveland, TN?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $2,316 in Cleveland, TN, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Cleveland, TN. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Cleveland, TN?
Both work as nomad bases, but Medellin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,013 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Medellin hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Cleveland, TN?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Cleveland, TN 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 129% less than in Cleveland, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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