Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Las Tablas Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Las Tablas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $841 in Las Tablas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $744 in Las Tablas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $647 in Las Tablas, rent included.

Medellin costs about 21% more than Las Tablas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Las Tablas are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Las Tablas 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$10.07 PAB 10.07

-40.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$29.80 PAB 29.80

11.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.46 PAB 1.46

19.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$3.07 PAB 3.07

5.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.05 PAB 2.05

10.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$5.65 PAB 5.65

95.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.46 PAB 1.46

-21.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.98 PAB 0.98

43.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.93 PAB 0.93

8.60%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$148 PAB 148

-43.57%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$15.18 PAB 15.18

-37.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$29.61 PAB 29.61

-18.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$19.63 PAB 19.63

28.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$692 PAB 692

-30.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$495 PAB 495

-23.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Las Tablas: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $692 in Las Tablas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $30.00 in Las Tablas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $27.00 – making Las Tablas 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 Las Tablas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 21% more than Las Tablas, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,262 in Las Tablas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Las Tablas, 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 $1,017 in Medellin and $841 in Las Tablas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 608% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Las Tablas, where all-in costs run around $841, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Las Tablas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Las Tablas costs $841 versus $1,017 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Las Tablas. 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.