Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kairouan Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kairouan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $574 in Kairouan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $888 in Kairouan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,201 in Kairouan, rent included.

Medellin costs about 80% more than Kairouan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Kairouan are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Kairouan 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$2.33 TND 6.83
164.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$8.45 TND 24.71
285.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$3.45 TND 10.09
112.75%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$0.71 TND 2.06
142.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$0.65 TND 1.89
61.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.15 TND 0.45
413.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$1.49 TND 4.35
13.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$1.90 TND 5.57
66.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$0.45 TND 1.32
133.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$0.08 TND 0.24
1525.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$1.53 TND 4.49
-8.50%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$1.48 TND 4.32
45.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$11.38 TND 33.30
-61.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$5.44 TND 15.92
8.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$11.72 TND 34.30
-26.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$2.14 TND 6.26
6.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$2.33 TND 6.82
-52.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$1.04 TND 3.04
47.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$0.70 TND 2.05
92.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$0.65 TND 1.90
73.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$0.72 TND 2.10
56.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.52 TND 1.52
63.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.25 TND 0.73
264.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$3.41 TND 9.98
-31.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$6.87 TND 20.10
80.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.10 TND 3.21
9.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$1.07 TND 3.13
132.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$0.35 TND 1.04
140.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$10.06 TND 29.45
303.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$0.31 TND 0.91
358.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$0.33 TND 0.97
481.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$7.51 TND 21.96
2.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$0.74 TND 2.16
33.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$35.0K TND 102.4K
-48.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$34.1K TND 99.9K
-22.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$46.06 TND 135
75.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$9.77 TND 28.59
1.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$14.80 TND 43.30
63.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$23.48 TND 68.7
6.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$12.92 TND 37.81
48.22%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$4.55 TND 13.32
-12.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$109 TND 319
179.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$2,475 TND 7,242
144.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$24.18 TND 70.8
140.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$43.89 TND 128
-26.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$48.36 TND 142
108.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$65.8 TND 192
63.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$118 TND 344
305.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$134 TND 392
180.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$373 TND 1,090
126.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$275 TND 805
165.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$951 TND 2,783
238.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$695 TND 2,035
97.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$325 TND 952
89.57%
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 Kairouan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $118 in Kairouan. 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 90% 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 $8.00 in Kairouan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $176 – making Kairouan 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 Kairouan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Kairouan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,031 in Medellin, $574 in Kairouan – roughly 80% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Kairouan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $861 in Kairouan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Kairouan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kairouan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Kairouan?
Public transport costs about 303% less in Kairouan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Kairouan?
Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Medellin and $109 in Kairouan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kairouan, where all-in costs run around $574, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Kairouan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Kairouan?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $574 in Kairouan to $1,031 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Kairouan 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 Kairouan?
If budget matters most, go with Kairouan. 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.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities