Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and El Kef Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and El Kef

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $552 in El Kef, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $878 in El Kef, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,204 in El Kef, rent included.

Medellin costs about 87% more than El Kef, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and El Kef are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, El Kef 59% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
El Kef
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$3.35 TND 9.80
83.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$13.69 TND 40.07
138.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$3.41 TND 9.98
115.25%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$0.71 TND 2.08
142.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$0.54 TND 1.57
94.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.25 TND 0.74
208.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$0.87 TND 2.54
94.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$1.05 TND 3.07
201.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
El Kef
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$0.44 TND 1.30
138.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$0.16 TND 0.48
712.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$1.48 TND 4.33
-5.41%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$1.50 TND 4.40
44.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$11.10 TND 32.48
-60.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$5.85 TND 17.12
0.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$13.28 TND 38.85
-34.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$2.24 TND 6.55
1.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$1.66 TND 4.85
-33.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$1.00 TND 2.92
53.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$0.58 TND 1.71
132.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$0.43 TND 1.25
162.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$0.18 TND 0.53
527.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.52 TND 1.51
63.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.29 TND 0.84
213.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$3.40 TND 9.96
-31.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$4.33 TND 12.67
185.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$0.69 TND 2.02
73.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$0.95 TND 2.77
162.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
El Kef
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$0.35 TND 1.03
140.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$10.12 TND 29.60
300.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$0.30 TND 0.88
373.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$0.29 TND 0.86
562.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$7.38 TND 21.59
3.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$0.82 TND 2.41
20.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$35.9K TND 105.0K
-49.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$34.1K TND 99.9K
-21.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
El Kef
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$27.36 TND 80.1
195.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$9.88 TND 28.90
0.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$14.28 TND 41.77
69.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
El Kef
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$29.03 TND 85.0
-13.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$12.50 TND 36.57
53.20%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$4.60 TND 13.46
-13.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
El Kef
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$67.0 TND 196
355.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$2,509 TND 7,340
141.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
El Kef
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$23.60 TND 69.1
146.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$44.81 TND 131
-28.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$40.60 TND 119
148.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$64.5 TND 189
67.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
El Kef
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$197 TND 578
141.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$133 TND 390
182.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$383 TND 1,121
120.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$267 TND 780
174.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$829 TND 2,426
287.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$560 TND 1,638
145.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
El Kef
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$169 TND 495
264.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
13.6
-1.25%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for El Kef: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $197 in El Kef. 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 265% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $14.00 in El Kef. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $170 – making El Kef 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 El Kef: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is El Kef cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 87%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $828 in El Kef. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in El Kef, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 301% less in El Kef. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Medellin and $67.0 in El Kef. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in El Kef?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in El Kef, where all-in costs run around $552, than in Medellin at $1,031. In El Kef it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or El Kef more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward El Kef – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or El Kef?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with El Kef. 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.

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