Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kairouan

For one person, living is cheaper in Kairouan: $613 a month against $1,625 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $12,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Kairouan
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$613
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Kairouan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Kairouan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,625 per month in Medellin vs $613 in Kairouan, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,625
  • Kairouan $613

A couple spends around $2,412 per month in Medellin vs $965 in Kairouan, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,412
  • Kairouan $965

A family of three spends $3,199 per month in Medellin vs $1,316 in Kairouan, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,199
  • Kairouan $1,316

Medellin costs about 165% more than Kairouan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Kairouan is 55% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.30 COP 26.3K
$2.65 TND 7.93
213.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.91 COP 148.7K
$16.21 TND 48.56
189.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 COP 29.3K
$6.15 TND 18.42
50.24%
Cappuccino
$3.05 COP 9,676
$0.96 TND 2.87
217.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,707
$0.84 TND 2.53
114.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,382
$0.37 TND 1.12
272.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 COP 10.3K
$1.64 TND 4.91
97.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 COP 17.6K
$2.63 TND 7.87
111.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 COP 4,760
$0.46 TND 1.37
226.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 COP 7,508
$0.08 TND 0.24
2862.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,377
$1.71 TND 5.11
-0.58%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,379
$1.50 TND 4.49
97.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.22 COP 32.4K
$9.90 TND 29.64
3.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 COP 30.9K
$5.65 TND 16.92
72.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.90 COP 44.1K
$11.68 TND 34.97
19.01%
Apples (1kg)
$4.13 COP 13.1K
$2.19 TND 6.55
88.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,839
$2.20 TND 6.58
-30.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 COP 7,052
$1.17 TND 3.49
89.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 COP 7,194
$0.76 TND 2.27
198.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 COP 6,311
$0.70 TND 2.10
184.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 COP 5,285
$0.66 TND 1.97
153.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 COP 3,742
$0.50 TND 1.48
136.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,919
$0.24 TND 0.71
416.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87 COP 12.3K
$3.33 TND 9.96
16.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.78 COP 43.7K
$6.78 TND 20.30
103.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,256
$1.25 TND 3.73
32.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 COP 7,615
$1.46 TND 4.39
64.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 COP 3,944
$0.34 TND 1.02
264.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.2 COP 248.0K
$11.10 TND 33.26
604.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,044
$0.29 TND 0.86
341.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 COP 6,803
$0.29 TND 0.86
641.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.37 COP 26.5K
$1.82 TND 5.46
359.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,288
$0.73 TND 2.18
84.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K COP 110.2M
$38.8K TND 116.3K
-10.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 110.0M
$36.2K TND 108.6K
-4.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 COP 528.4K
$60.7 TND 182
174.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.62 COP 43.2K
$8.89 TND 26.63
53.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.12 COP 92.3K
$20.10 TND 60.2
44.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.09 COP 143.0K
$23.26 TND 69.7
93.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.18 COP 54.5K
$12.84 TND 38.45
33.80%
Cinema Ticket
$6.97 COP 22.1K
$4.77 TND 14.28
46.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.5M
$108 TND 322
634.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,041 COP 28.7M
$3,227 TND 9,666
180.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8 COP 278.4K
$23.82 TND 71.4
268.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2 COP 184.4K
$61.5 TND 184
-5.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 440.7K
$46.99 TND 141
195.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 COP 313.5K
$83.4 TND 250
18.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$118 TND 354
771.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 COP 2.0M
$135 TND 404
359.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,881 COP 6.0M
$376 TND 1,126
400.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 COP 3.2M
$271 TND 813
271.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,988 COP 12.6M
$890 TND 2,665
348.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,702 COP 5.4M
$601 TND 1,800
183.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 COP 2.1M
$325 TND 972
104.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
10.65
2.72%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Last update for Kairouan: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$619
Kairouan
$135 78.2% $485
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$298
Kairouan
$175 41.4% $123
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$209
Kairouan
$90 57.2% $120
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$173
Kairouan
$97 43.8% $76
Eating Out
Medellin
$171
Kairouan
$69 59.3% $101
Getting Around
Medellin
$95
Kairouan
$14 85.1% $81
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$59
Kairouan
$33 44.4% $26

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 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 104% 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 $47.00 in Medellin versus $16.00 in Kairouan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $175 – making Kairouan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇹🇳 Kairouan
🕒 Local time
21:27 9:27 PM
03:27 3:27 AM
6 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
139,070
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TND, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 2.99 TND (1 TND = 0.334 USD). 1 EUR = 3.37 TND (1 TND = 0.297 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Kairouan 9,210 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Kairouan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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: $1,625 in Medellin, $613 in Kairouan – roughly 165% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Kairouan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,437 per month in Medellin and $919 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 605% 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 $790 per month in Medellin and $108 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 $613, than in Medellin at $1,625. 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 $613 in Kairouan to $1,625 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

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?