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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $608 in Kairouan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $956 in Kairouan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $1,305 in Kairouan, rent included.

Medellin costs about 182% more than Kairouan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Kairouan is 56% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.1K
$2.74 TND 7.92
193.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 151.0K
$16.55 TND 47.84
191.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.6K
$5.30 TND 15.32
84.34%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,107
$0.79 TND 2.29
268.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,082
$0.66 TND 1.90
193.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,760
$0.26 TND 0.75
484.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,676
$1.67 TND 4.83
85.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 18.0K
$2.03 TND 5.86
182.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,267
$0.49 TND 1.42
177.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,470
$0.08 TND 0.22
2887.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,321
$1.38 TND 4.00
23.19%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 8,979
$1.57 TND 4.54
82.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.1K
$12.92 TND 37.36
-23.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.7K
$5.85 TND 16.90
84.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.1K
$12.26 TND 35.45
20.15%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$1.89 TND 5.46
116.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,917
$2.29 TND 6.63
-31.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,651
$1.06 TND 3.07
100.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,926
$0.76 TND 2.20
190.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,404
$0.72 TND 2.08
184.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,706
$0.79 TND 2.29
89.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,723
$0.55 TND 1.59
116.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,623
$0.27 TND 0.78
329.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$3.35 TND 9.69
16.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.2K
$6.99 TND 20.22
106.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,955
$1.20 TND 3.48
31.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,847
$1.08 TND 3.12
162.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,655
$0.35 TND 1.01
234.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 243.2K
$10.36 TND 29.96
650.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,019
$0.30 TND 0.86
326.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,546
$0.35 TND 1.02
497.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 27.0K
$7.44 TND 21.51
15.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,061
$0.82 TND 2.38
58.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.5M
$40.7K TND 117.7K
-32.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 111.1M
$37.4K TND 108.3K
-5.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 550.9K
$45.77 TND 132
284.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 41.8K
$10.04 TND 29.04
33.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 93.5K
$15.31 TND 44.28
95.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 140.0K
$23.75 TND 68.7
88.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.4K
$14.15 TND 40.92
20.57%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.4K
$4.57 TND 13.22
35.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$112 TND 324
608.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.2M
$2,517 TND 7,277
258.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 267.8K
$23.76 TND 68.7
260.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 182.9K
$45.13 TND 130
29.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 426.4K
$47.92 TND 139
184.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 322.6K
$65.3 TND 189
57.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$117 TND 339
802.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$159 TND 459
328.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$390 TND 1,127
416.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$284 TND 821
311.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.9M
$976 TND 2,822
321.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$634 TND 1,832
168.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
$339 TND 981
96.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
13.6
-19.56%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Kairouan: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $117 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 96% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $17.00 in Kairouan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $185 – 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: $1,716 in Medellin, $608 in Kairouan – roughly 182% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Kairouan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $911 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 650% 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 $793 per month in Medellin and $112 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 $608, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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 $608 in Kairouan to $1,716 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.

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