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 $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $852 in Las Tablas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $750 in Las Tablas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $647 in Las Tablas, rent included.

Medellin costs about 18% more than Las Tablas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Las Tablas are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Las Tablas 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$9.84 PAB 9.84

-39.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$29.85 PAB 29.85

10.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.53 PAB 1.53

12.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$3.04 PAB 3.04

4.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.97 PAB 1.97

10.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$5.84 PAB 5.84

107.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.40 PAB 1.40

-15.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.98 PAB 0.98

44.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.87 PAB 0.87

13.79%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$148 PAB 148

-44.01%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$15.05 PAB 15.05

-35.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$29.90 PAB 29.90

-21.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$20.21 PAB 20.21

24.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

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

$316 COP 994.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$696 PAB 696

-31.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$500 PAB 500

-25.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Las Tablas: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $696 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: $193 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 18% 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,278 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $852 in Las Tablas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 628% 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 $852, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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 $852 versus $1,003 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.