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 $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $461 in Las Tablas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $676 in Las Tablas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $892 in Las Tablas, rent included.

Medellin costs about 265% more than Las Tablas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Las Tablas is 66% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Las Tablas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.3K
$10.15 PAB 10.15
-20.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 151.0K
$30.53 PAB 30.53
56.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 31.2K
$8.38 PAB 8.38
18.02%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,873
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 6,019
$0.98 PAB 0.98
94.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,763
$1.02 PAB 1.02
48.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,853
$1.29 PAB 1.29
141.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
$2.73 PAB 2.73
110.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Las Tablas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,558
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,843
$1.96 PAB 1.96
27.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,595
-
-
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,336
$2.03 PAB 2.03
45.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.8K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.9K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 45.1K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 13.0K
$4.30 PAB 4.30
-3.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,073
$1.26 PAB 1.26
27.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,083
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,104
$1.57 PAB 1.57
43.31%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,444
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,842
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,691
$1.23 PAB 1.23
-4.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,121
$0.98 PAB 0.98
33.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.3K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 44.2K
$5.62 PAB 5.62
149.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,498
$1.27 PAB 1.27
37.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 9,053
$1.79 PAB 1.79
60.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Las Tablas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,834
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 253.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,129
$1.03 PAB 1.03
27.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,899
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.5K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,306
$0.93 PAB 0.93
47.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 87.8M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 112.8M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Las Tablas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 559.3K
$147 PAB 147
20.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.8K
$23.23 PAB 23.23
-40.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 93.8K
$36.93 PAB 36.93
-19.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Las Tablas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 141.6K
$19.90 PAB 19.90
125.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 54.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 21.0K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Las Tablas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.6M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 29.0M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Las Tablas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 282.3K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 186.0K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 435.9K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 322.1K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Las Tablas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 6.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Las Tablas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
0
-

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Las Tablas: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $31.00 in Las Tablas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $103 – 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
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Las Tablas?
Medellin costs about 265% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Las Tablas?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $691 in Las Tablas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Las Tablas?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $461 in Las Tablas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Las Tablas?
Groceries cost about 197% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Las Tablas?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Las Tablas, where all-in costs run around $461, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Las Tablas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Las Tablas?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Las Tablas costs $461 versus $1,681 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Medellin compared to Las Tablas?
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.
Should I move to Medellin or to Las Tablas?
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.

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