Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and La Marsa Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and La Marsa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $775 in La Marsa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,371 in La Marsa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,967 in La Marsa, rent included.

Medellin costs about 29% more than La Marsa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and La Marsa are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, La Marsa 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$3.44 TND 10.09

71.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$22.43 TND 65.8

46.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$4.05 TND 11.88

83.46%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$0.76 TND 2.24

117.11%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.60 TND 1.75

83.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.23 TND 0.67

239.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.53 TND 4.50

12.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$2.60 TND 7.63

22.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$0.50 TND 1.48

120.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.19 TND 0.56

563.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.48 TND 4.33

-6.76%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.65 TND 4.84

32.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$11.15 TND 32.71

-59.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$5.53 TND 16.23

4.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$13.45 TND 39.46

-33.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.89 TND 5.55

22.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$2.95 TND 8.66

-64.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.05 TND 3.09

44.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$0.68 TND 1.98

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.67 TND 1.97

68.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.48 TND 1.40

143.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.37 TND 1.08

143.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.27 TND 0.79

233.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$3.48 TND 10.21

-35.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$6.57 TND 19.29

84.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.11 TND 3.25

7.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.10 TND 3.22

125.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.33 TND 0.97

157.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$6.66 TND 19.53

524.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.31 TND 0.92

358.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.22 TND 0.65

786.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$4.12 TND 12.10

91.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.82 TND 2.42

20.73%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$35.1K TND 103.0K

-49.84%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$27.6K TND 80.9K

-2.74%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$35.23 TND 103

135.62%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$9.87 TND 28.96

-1.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$14.66 TND 43.03

60.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$45.21 TND 133

-44.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$7.45 TND 21.86

156.38%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$4.52 TND 13.25

-12.61%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 994.2K

$84.9 TND 249

271.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$2,399 TND 7,041

149.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$44.13 TND 130

35.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$44.53 TND 131

-28.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$88.8 TND 261

14.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$65.0 TND 191

65.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$345 TND 1,013

37.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$284 TND 834

31.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$781 TND 2,291

8.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$836 TND 2,454

-13.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,807 TND 5,302

80.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,020 TND 2,993

41.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$341 TND 1,002

82.88%

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 27, 2026

Last update for La Marsa: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $345 in La Marsa. 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 83% 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 $22.00 in La Marsa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $184 – making La Marsa 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 La Marsa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,163 in La Marsa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in La Marsa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $775 in La Marsa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 525% less in La Marsa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Marsa, where all-in costs run around $775, than in Medellin at $1,003. In La Marsa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward La Marsa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with La Marsa. 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.