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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,936 in Jackson, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $2,931 in Jackson, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $3,926 in Jackson, TN, rent included.

Medellin is about 48% cheaper than Jackson, TN, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Jackson, TN is 44% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Jackson, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.4K
$16.40 $16.40
-63.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 117.4K
$39.51 $39.51
-16.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.3K
$9.83 $9.83
-27.87%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,115
$4.38 $4.38
-60.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,924
$2.43 $2.43
-54.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,781
$1.97 $1.97
-60.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 5,997
$3.92 $3.92
-57.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 11.0K
$6.95 $6.95
-55.83%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Jackson, TN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,906
$0.96 $0.96
13.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,508
$2.86 $2.86
-55.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,922
$2.67 $2.67
-48.31%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,827
$4.37 $4.37
-49.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.7K
$11.51 $11.51
-61.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.1K
$11.82 $11.82
-52.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 31.8K
$15.56 $15.56
-42.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,349
$5.79 $5.79
-59.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,777
$1.64 $1.64
-35.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,374
$2.95 $2.95
-49.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,924
$4.27 $4.27
-67.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,111
$1.60 $1.60
-28.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,155
$2.20 $2.20
-47.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,182
$1.82 $1.82
-51.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,997
$1.53 $1.53
-45.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,145
$8.14 $8.14
-71.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 38.0K
$13.16 $13.16
-19.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,284
$1.71 $1.71
-29.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,824
$1.97 $1.97
25.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Jackson, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,056
$1.26 $1.26
-31.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 147.9K
$35.16 $35.16
17.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,264
$1.95 $1.95
-24.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 7,009
$1.26 $1.26
55.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.6K
$19.73 $19.73
-60.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,409
$0.76 $0.76
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 64.7M
$35.0K $35.0K
-48.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 94.6M
$24.6K $24.6K
7.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Jackson, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 293.7K
$202 $202
-59.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 33.9K
$49.67 $49.67
-80.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 86.5K
$69.5 $69.5
-65.14%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Jackson, TN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 92.4K
$40.04 $40.04
-35.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 67.9K
$50.1 $50.1
-62.06%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.0K
$9.17 $9.17
-57.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Jackson, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$992 $992
-68.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.3M
$8,486 $8,486
-29.71%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Jackson, TN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 209.5K
$46.35 $46.35
26.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 115.5K
$36.52 $36.52
-11.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 366.4K
$82.2 $82.2
24.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 387.2K
$102 $102
6.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Jackson, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$1,043 $1,043
-54.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
$815 $815
-53.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$1,743 $1,743
-51.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$1,455 $1,455
-50.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 10.0M
$1,682 $1,682
65.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.3M
$1,667 $1,667
-27.34%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Jackson, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
$4,081 $4,081
-87.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
5.75
133.57%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jackson, TN: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $1,043 in Jackson, 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 697% higher in Jackson, 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 $40.00 in Jackson, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $352 – 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 Jackson, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and Jackson, TN compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,013 in Medellin, $1,936 in Jackson, TN – roughly 91% apart. Jackson, TN costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Jackson, TN?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $2,904 in Jackson, TN. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Jackson, TN?
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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 87% more in Jackson, TN, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $40.00 in Jackson, TN. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Jackson, TN at $1,936. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jackson, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Jackson, TN?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,013 in Medellin to $1,936 in Jackson, TN. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Jackson, TN safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Medellin and Jackson, TN?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jackson, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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